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Saudi Arabia welcomed a host of big-name footballers to the Middle East this summer while offering them mouth-watering paychecks for their services.
The Saudi Pro League currently boasts the biggest salaries in world football.
Recently, players who have sealed transfers to the Saudi Pro League have found themselves amongst the list of highest-paid footballers in the world.
In January this year, Cristiano Ronaldo completed a record-breaking switch to Al-Nassr, in a move that made him become the highest-paid footballer and highest-paid athlete in the world.
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This summer, a host of big names in football have made their way to the Middle East and have shown no hesitation to splash the cash.
The likes of Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, N’golo Kante amongst other superstars have already completed mega-money transfers to a number of clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
PSG star Kylian Mbappe was reportedly offered a ridiculous £605m-per-year offer to also join in on the exodus to Middle East, although, the 23-year-old France captain is said to have rejected the staggering offer as well as a chance to become the highest-paid athlete in sports history.
In this article, Pulse Sports will reveal the details of their contracts to determine the highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League, as per reports from The Sun as well as other sources.
10. Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal) - £288,000 per week
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This summer, Neves left Wolverhampton Wanderers after six years, for Saudi Pro League club, Al-Hilal after the Middle Eastern club splashed out £47million for his services.
The 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder was also blunt enough to admit that he could not say ‘NO’ to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Neves said: "The main factor was my family and the chance to give them the life I have always dreamt of for them – that was the biggest reason for me to not have any doubts.
"I have three kids and a lovely wife, and I need to take care of them, that is the biggest trophy in my career."
With Al-Hilal, Neves is currently earning around six times his salary at Wolves and reportedly signed with the Saudi club in a contract until 2026.
9. Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli) - £326,000 per week
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In June, Liverpool fan favourite 'Bobby' Firmino made his decision to leave the Reds when his contract expired.
Firmino was immediately a target for some top clubs in Europe.
However, the talented Brazilian forward opted to sign with deal with Al-Ahli on a three-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid players in Saudi Arabia as well as one of the highest-paid Brazilian footballers in the world.
The 31-year-old former Hoffenheim star won the Premier League title and Champions League with Liverpool and was a crucial member of the team.
Firmino was lauded for his work rate, selflessness, link-up plays and overall contribution to Liverpool’s recent success.
8. Marcelo Brozovic (Al-Nassr) - £403,000 per week
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2023 Champions League finalist Marcelo Brozovic is also one of the highest-paid players in Saudi Arabia.
Brozovic who was a target for Juventus this summer turned down a chance to remain in the Serie A with Inter Milan for a transfer to the Middle East.
The 31-year-old Croatian midfield maestro signed a three-year deal and will link up with Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the new season as Al-Nassr look to win the Saudi Pro League Championship.
7. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) - £576,000 per week
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Koulibaly's disappointing spell with Chelsea came to an end last month when he signed for Al-Hilal in a £20m deal.
The 32-year-old Senegalese centre back failed to live up to the hype at Stamford Bridge and sealed a £30m-per-year contract with the Middle East giants.
Koulibaly also admitted that he could not turn down the life-changing offer after signing a three-year contract.
The former Napoli captain who is set to link up with Ruben Neves echoed his new teammate’s words as he said: “In addition, this very important contract. I will be able to help my whole family to live well: from my parents to my cousins, and above all to support the social activities of my association ‘Capitane du Coeur ‘ in Senegal.”
6. Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) - £604,000 per week
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The 32-year-old former Leicester forward is a serial winner in England winning the Premier League with two different clubs.
Mahrez has pretty much established himself as one of the best wingers in the history of the Man City and was a fan-favourite during his spell at the Etihad.
The Algerian skipper signed for Al-Ahli in a three-year deal that saw a bumper rise in his salary at City, and also saw him become one of the highest-paid African footballers in the world.
Mahrez will be playing alongside former Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, who also made the move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
5. Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq) - £692,000 per week
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England midfielder Jordan Henderson penned a three-year deal with Al-Ettifaq after 12 years at Liverpool.
The former Reds skipper will link up with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who is one of the highest-paid coaches in world football.
Henderson’s £692,000-per-week salary makes him the highest-paid British player in the world amid controversy over his switch to the Middle East.
4. Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr) - £716,000 per week
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Mane completed a transfer to Al-Nassr last month having struggled to replicate his electrifying Liverpool form at Bayern Munich.
The 31-year-old Senegalese forward saw his debut in Germany marred by injuries, fitness and lack of adequate game time.
Mane is now set to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic at his new club after signing a record-breaking deal with Al-Nassr.
Mane will earn reportedly £103 million in euros in three years at the Saudi club, becoming the highest-paid African footballer of all time.
3. N’golo Kante (Al-Ittihad) - £1,600,000 per week
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Kante said his goodbye to Chelsea via an emotional letter to the Blues fans after a successful 7 year spell at Stamford Bridge, where he won every single trophy in Europe.
Kante who is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation sealed an incredible mega-money switch to Saudi Pro club Al-Ittihad in June on a two-year deal, making him one of the highest-paid players in Saudi Arabia and one of the highest-paid French footballers of all time.
2. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) - £3,300,000 per week
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The current holder of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, Karim Benzema, called time on his adventure in Europe this summer.
And it took a ridiculous amount of paycheck to secure his services and prise him away from Real Madrid.
Benzema has won five Champions League titles with Madrid and won pretty much every single trophy at club level.
However, the prolific Frenchman is understood to have desired a new challenge and opted for an adventure in the Middle East.
Benzema will reportedly earn an eye-catching and stupendous $643 million for three years and will link up with players like Ngolo Kante, Fabinho and Diogo Jota.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) - £3,400,000 per week
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It comes as little surprise who the no.1 on this list is - none other than five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Following his controversial exit from Manchester United, Ronaldo called time on his legendary career in European club football and signed a deal with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr worth a staggering £3.4m-per-week, which he penned until June 2025.
As of August 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid athlete in the world and one of the richest footballers in the world.
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