Saudi Pro League shifts away from megastar signings to focus on youth
Competing with European clubs for top prospects is partly a business decision, partly an attempt to change perceptions
It was striking that in a month when Neymar left Saudi Arabia after costing Al-Hilal hundreds of millions of pounds and playing only seven games in return, the Saudi Pro League’s clubs turned more and more to youth. The transfer window closed on Friday with a couple of big deals but there was activity before; it just happened to be quieter and less headline-grabbing.
January intensified a change of focus that has been taking place since the summer of 2023 when a whole host of megastars headed to the Middle East. As well as Neymar there was Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and a flurry of other 30-somethings who made the move to follow the granddaddy of them all, a certain player who turned 40 on Wednesday.
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
Topics
-
Saudi Pro League's plans: Inside Jhon Duran's transfer and if Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Jr. could be next
Some late twists saw Al-Nassr land Duran over Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, and the league continues to plan on acquiring even bigger namesCBS Sports - 13h -
Germany and Saudi Arabia sign green hydrogen deal
Yahoo News - 2d -
Syria’s new leader visits Saudi Arabia in sign of regional power shift
Ahmed al-Sharaa holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince on his first trip abroad after fall of Assad regimeFinancial Times - 3d -
Saudi Arabia’s sports minister keen for Mohamed Salah to join Pro League
2034 hosts discussing if World Cup will be in winter ‘To have Mo Salah would be a pleasure and a privilege’ Saudi Arabia’s sports minister says he would love to have Mohamed Salah playing in his ...The Guardian - 6d -
Source: McCarthy shifts focus to '26 hiring cycle
Mike McCarthy is no longer planning to coach this year, sources told ESPN, while Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has emerged as a lead candidate for the Saints job, the last remaining ...ESPN - Jan. 29 -
DeepSeek shows AI's centre of power could shift away from US
The app's strong debut has shaken beliefs that the US would remain the unchallenged global AI superpower, writes the BBC's Marc Cieslak.BBC News - Jan. 28 -
2-year Treasury yield ends at lowest level in a week as Fed meeting shifts into focus
Yields on U.S. government debt finished lower on Friday and were little changed for the week, as traders absorbed President Donald Trump’s views on interest rates and China.MarketWatch - Jan. 24 -
What's next for Dodgers after Roki Sasaki signing? Focus shifts to bringing back mainstays, possible trades
The World Series champs have an absurdly deep rotation... and it doesn't currently include Clayton KershawCBS Sports - Jan. 18 -
Saudi Arabia May Partner With UFC Owner TKO to Create Boxing League
A company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund is poised to team up with TKO, which owns Ultimate Fighting Championship, the kingdom’s latest foray into pro sports.The New York Times - Jan. 8
More from The Guardian
-
Middle East crisis live: Israel’s defence minister says countries which opposed military operations in Gaza should take Palestinians
Israel Katz orders army to prepare plan to allow ‘voluntary departure’ of residents from Gaza as Spain rejects suggestion it should accept displaced people. UN chief warns against ‘ethnic ...The Guardian - 21m -
Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte impeached over allegations including plot to kill president
Move likely to deepen political rift between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte has been impeached on a range of accusations that include plotting to ...The Guardian - 7h -
Owner of spyware used in alleged WhatsApp breach ends contract with Italy
Exclusive: Decision comes after it emerged an Italian investigative journalist and two activists targeted by Paragon Solutions spyware. Paragon Solutions, whose military-grade hacking software was ...The Guardian - 5h -
Thin is the new thick: Japanese masters of minimalism win RIBA gold medal
Japanese practice Sanaa’s slender, stripped-back buildings boast walls that are just 16mm thick and concrete canopies that look as if they could float away. It is not often as an architecture ...The Guardian - 11h -
Hottest January on record mystifies climate scientists
EU monitor says global temperatures were 1.75C above preindustrial levels, extending run of unprecedented highs. A run of record-breaking global temperatures has continued, even with a La Niña ...The Guardian - 1h
More in World
-
India v England: first men’s cricket one-day international – live
Over-by-over updates, series opener starts 8am GMT Sri Lanka v Australia – live | Email Tom your thoughts 4th over: England 17-0 (Salt 8, Duckett 9) . A maiden. Harshit finds a better ...The Guardian - 21m -
Middle East crisis live: Israel’s defence minister says countries which opposed military operations in Gaza should take Palestinians
Israel Katz orders army to prepare plan to allow ‘voluntary departure’ of residents from Gaza as Spain rejects suggestion it should accept displaced people. UN chief warns against ‘ethnic ...The Guardian - 21m -
Sri Lanka v Australia: second men’s cricket Test, day one – live
Updates from the opening day of the match in Galle Cooper Connolly makes Test debut for Australia India v England: first ODI – live | Email Geoff 2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Nissanka 4, ...The Guardian - 22m -
UK construction activity tumbles as pressure builds for interest rate cut today; Nissan-Honda $60bn merger ‘basically over’ – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as UK share index bursts over 8,700 points for first time. Bank of England poised to cut interest rates amid UK economic gloom ...The Guardian - 33m -
Despite housing crunch, German construction sector stuck in doldrums
Yahoo News - 36m
