The Saudi Pro League is preparing to instigate a second seismic shift in the global football landscape. According to reports this week, the league’s dealmakers have identified a shortlist of 50 elite-level players, including many in the peak-age, for a massive summer recruitment drive. It is estimated that €2 billion has been allocated for the 2026 cycle as the league tries to phase out its initial strategy of a ‘legends-core’ in favour of bringing in primarily peak-age players.
At the forefront of this ambition is Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. A beIN Sports story indicates that Al-Ahli are preparing a package worth €1 billion to entice the 25-year-old Brazilian winger. Although, if that is true, the total budget may exceed €2 billion. Vini Jr is said to be considered the foundational super-brand essential for maintaining global interest in the league as the kingdom builds to hosting the 2034 World Cup.
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Despite the intent to bring in young blood, a select group of more experienced players are also part of the plan. Foremost among them is Mohamed Salah. The Egypt captain—the world’s most famous Muslim footballer—remains the most coveted athlete in the region. The operation to bring Salah in will be led by the SPL’s sporting director—Michael Emenalo. The Nigerian already has a relationship with Salah, having been technical director at Chelsea when the London club signed Salah in 2014. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are understood to be the primary suitors. But, the league’s centralised recruitment model means that Salah, who will turn 34 in June, could be allotted to the club where his commercial impact will be greatest.
Another high-profile name on the 50-man shortlist is Manchester United’s Portuguese Magnifico Bruno Fernandes. The English club had supposedly rejected a record offer from Al-Hilal last summer, claimed to be between £100-£130 million, for the captain. But, they will be powerless to stop the move this time, if reports that Fernandes has a €60 million release clause for non-Premier League clubs is true. The 31-year-old No. 10’s elite performance levels and leadership could act as a bridge between the current era of veteran stars and the incoming wave of younger talent.
A key factor driving this aggressive investment strategy is the retirement timeline of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Al-Nassr captain, who turns 41 on February 5, has reportedly informed league officials of his intention to retire at the conclusion of his contract in the summer of 2027. So, the idea to recruit Vini Jr, Salah and Fernandes is supposed to ensure that the league’s global viewership and stadium attendance do not collapse in a post-Ronaldo vacuum.
Moreover, Al-Nassr is also reportedly negotiating an increase in Ronaldo’s ownership stake to 15 per cent, allowing him to transition from the pitch to the boardroom as a club co-founder and, more importantly, ambassador.
The recruitment strategy could be further bolstered by the rise of Diriyah Club. The Riyadh club is currently in the second division. If it gets promoted, which is looking likely at the moment, it could have significant funds. Notably, its business will be led by former Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, and that, in turn, could ensure that the club becomes a major force in the market. Freedman’s appointment in 2025 was a signal of intent, bringing Premier League-standard talent identification to Riyadh’s outskirts. He is tasked with identifying under-valued peak-age talent—such as Arsenal’s Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli and Aston Villa’s Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana—both 24. This diversification—where clubs outside the traditional big clubs also get stronger—is a key component of the league’s attempt to create a competitive ecosystem to rival the European domestic leagues.
For Europe, the summer of 2026 presents a significant challenge. Unlike the 2023 window, which saw players like Karim Benzema and Jordan Henderson, who were largely viewed as replaceable, departing, this new Saudi project seems to be targeting more important assets. Saudi Arabia is literally trying to buy the immediate future of the beautiful game.