From Europe to Arabia: Soccer’s Shifting Sway

This summer, Saudi Arabia is bringing in some of the most talented players in world football, with many players joining from major European leagues. The moves made by former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo and former Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema could mark the beginning of a new era in the Saudi league. However, a major unanswered question remains: why are Saudi leagues signing numerous top players from European leagues?

Sports analysts argue that the nation’s economy needs diversification as it heavily relies on oil sales for revenue. To achieve this, the nation’s sovereign wealth investment fund, the PIF, is being utilized. There is a particular interest in expanding the sports industry, including the football league, to develop a thriving leisure and entertainment sector. Saudi Arabia aims to capitalize on the significant interest in football among its population, which consists of 70% of individuals under the age of 40.

According to Sky Sports, Saudi Arabia had the most dedicated supporters at the Qatar World Cup last year, and their team even defeated the eventual winners, Argentina, in the group stages. Football enjoys immense popularity in Saudi Arabia, and investing in the sport is seen as a means to boost tourism.

Some notable names that have joined the Saudi leagues include Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, N’Golo Kanté from Chelsea, RúbenNeves from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Roberto Firmino from Liverpool, Edouard Mendy from Chelsea, Jota from Celtic, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Marcelo Brozović from Inter Milan, and Sergej Milinković-Savić from Lazio. The transfer activity is expected to continue until the summer transfer window is closed.