The Present Top Ten Highest-Earning Players in the Saudi Pro League

The Present Top Ten Highest-Earning Players in the Saudi Pro League.

“The Saudi Pro League’s Ambition Attracts Football Superstars”

In its bid to disrupt the current landscape of world football, the Saudi Pro League has successfully lured some of the sport’s biggest names to its ranks.

The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022 marked a major coup for the league, and he’s not the only former Ballon d’Or winner gracing the Saudi Arabian stage. Karim Benzema is set to join the league next season, and N’Golo Kante will soon follow suit by joining champions Al Ittihad.

For these star players, the drop in overall league quality matters little, given the staggering sums of money clubs are offering. The Public Investment Fund, which also controls Newcastle United, now holds ownership of Saudi Arabia’s top four clubs, ensuring a steady stream of financial investment into the league’s growth.

Here, we present the current top ten highest-earning players in the Saudi Pro League.

10. Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr)

Weekly Earnings: £403,000 Annual Salary: £20.9 million

Marcelo Brozovic showcased exceptional performance throughout the 2022/23 season, notably during Croatia’s impressive World Cup campaign and Inter’s journey to the Champions League final. However, his outstanding efforts were not enough to keep him in European football when Al Nassr extended an enticing offer.

The midfielder made a €18 million move to Al Nassr and swiftly made his debut for the club during pre-season, an emotional return after previously making 330 appearances for Inter.

9. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal)

Weekly Earnings: £576,000 Annual Salary: £30 million

Kalidou Koulibaly’s stint at Chelsea was short-lived, considering he had risen to prominence as one of Europe’s finest center-backs during his time at Napoli.

Regrettably, Koulibaly joined Chelsea during a tumultuous transitional season that saw his former team clinch the Serie A title. Talk about unfortunate timing.

Given his inability to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea gladly facilitated Koulibaly’s departure as they embark on a deliberate rebuilding process with a more youthful squad.

8. Sadio Mane (Al Nassr)

Weekly Earnings: £650,000 Annual Salary: £34 million

Despite being considered a modern-day legend at Liverpool, Sadio Mane had a challenging season with Bayern Munich in his last campaign. Rather than continuing his European journey, Mane decided to embrace the lucrative opportunities in the Gulf region.

Bayern Munich was willing to take a financial hit on the Senegalese star, as Al Nassr secured his services for £24 million. They also presented Mane with a substantial annual salary of £34 million.

This versatile forward will be joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh, and his career in Saudi Arabia has begun on a promising note.

7. Fabinho (Al Ittihad)

Weekly Earnings: £692,000 Annual Salary: £36.4 million

Once an indispensable part of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable team at Anfield, Fabinho’s declining form played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s struggles during the previous season.

With Liverpool undergoing a midfield overhaul this summer, they were content to allow the Brazilian midfielder to make a move to Al Ittihad. However, they have not yet found a like-for-like replacement for the tall and commanding holding midfielder.

Reportedly, the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League are offering Fabinho a substantial weekly wage, nearing the £700,000 mark.

6. Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq)

Weekly Earnings: £692,000 Annual Salary: £36.4 million

Jordan Henderson made history as the second active English player in the Saudi Pro League, following in the footsteps of Al Shadab’s Mo Adams when he departed Liverpool for Al Ettifaq.

During his time at Anfield, the former Sunderland youngster and captain of the Reds achieved numerous accolades, including legendary victories in the Champions League and Premier League in consecutive seasons. However, Henderson’s departure quickly materialized once Steven Gerrard expressed keen interest in acquiring the midfielder.

This move raised some eyebrows, particularly in light of Henderson’s previous involvement in LGBTQ+ advocacy. Nonetheless, the transfer has led to a substantial increase in his annual salary.

5. Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)

Weekly Earnings: £865,000 Annual Salary: £45 million

Riyad Mahrez concluded a remarkable chapter at Manchester City as a treble-winning player, initially achieving Premier League glory as an underdog with Leicester City.

While City was keen on retaining the services of the Algerian captain, his morale was dampened by being left out of the line-up for both the Champions League and FA Cup finals, not making an appearance in either match. Consequently, an offer from Al Ahli was promptly accepted.

4. N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad)

Weekly Earnings: £1.7 million Annual Salary: £86.2 million

N’Golo Kante’s departure from Chelsea didn’t garner much attention, as he experienced another injury-plagued season during his final campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Injuries have disrupted the rhythm of the former Leicester star in recent years. However, any additional time he spends on the sidelines in Saudi Arabia will be compensated by his substantial annual salary.

Kante has joined the reigning champions, Al Ittihad, who made a significant splash in the 2023 summer transfer window by securing the services of a Real Madrid legend.

3. Neymar (Al Hilal)

Weekly Earnings: £2.65 million Annual Salary: £138 million

The entire Neymar-to-PSG saga—what did it all amount to, really? Neymar’s tenure in the French capital, while sporadically available, was remarkably productive. Nevertheless, it concludes without him having propelled Les Parisiens to their ultimate goal.

At the age of 31, Neymar’s inability to attract European suitors serves as a stark assessment of his somewhat diminished status, despite his exceptional talent. As a result, and with Luis Enrique eager to move beyond the mercurial superstar, Neymar turned his attention to the Gulf region.

While it’s unsurprising that Neymar will command an enormous salary at Al Hilal, it’s worth noting that his earnings still fall short of the top two highest earners in the league.

2. Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)

Weekly Earnings: £3.58 million Annual Salary: £172 million

A mere year after claiming the prestigious Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema made the bold choice to depart Real Madrid and set out on a fresh journey in the Middle East.

Although injuries posed some challenges during his 2022/23 season, there’s no denying the Frenchman’s ability to compete at the elite level. However, the 35-year-old couldn’t resist the astronomical paycheck extended to him by the reigning champions, Al Ittihad.

Reportedly, Benzema is set to earn a salary figure close to Ronaldo’s record £173 million annual earnings.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

Weekly Earnings: £3.6 million Annual Salary: £177 million

Following his tumultuous second departure from Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo made history as Saudi Arabia’s premier signing by inking a colossal contract with Al Nassr, valued at over £173 million annually.

The legendary footballer had a prolific debut season in the Saudi Pro League, yet his goal-scoring prowess was not enough to propel Al Nassr to the championship.

The Top Ten Best-Paid Players in the Saudi Pro League”

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