3 Saudi league players who could return to Europe

Saudi Arabia once again captures the media spotlight. The Saudi League may lose João Félix, Ivan Toney and Darwin Núñez in the upcoming transfer windows, although each case presents different conditions. Félix has expressed his desire to return to European football, Toney has been linked with Premier League teams, and Núñez is still seeking continuity in the Saudi championship after changing clubs in 2026.

João Félix, the return to Europe he's already considering

João Félix, 26-year-old Portuguese forward, is the candidate with the clearest intention of returning to compete in Europe. In September, he explained that he would like to play in the Champions League again, although he did not set a specific date to leave Al-Nassr.

The attacker has accumulated 7 goals and 11 assists in 14 matches during the 2026-2027 season, according to data published by Fichajes.net on November 4. His performance has revived speculation about a possible return to Barcelona, where he played on loan during the 2023-2024 season.

His contract with Al-Nassr ends in June 2027, but the Saudi club has a unilateral option to extend it. That clause may complicate his departure, especially if the club decides to retain him and improve his financial conditions. The return to Europe will depend on both his willingness and the resolution of that contractual scenario.

🚨🚨 | 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Manchester United are CONSIDERING a loan move for Ivan Toney in January. United want to add an experienced striker to their squad following Benjamin Šeško’s fitness issues, with the 30-year-old reportedly OPEN to a Premier League return. [@footyinsider247]

— MatchdayHQ (@TheMatchdayHQ) November 6, 2026

Ivan Toney, an option for the Premier League

Ivan Toney, 30-year-old English forward, is also among the possible candidates to leave Saudi Arabia. The Al-Ahli attacker has been recently linked with Manchester United and Newcastle United, who are considering alternatives to strengthen their attack ahead of the winter transfer market.

Information published by CaughtOffside on November 6 suggests that Newcastle could evaluate his incorporation and highlights the prior relationship between Toney and coach Matthias Jaissle, with whom he was at Al-Ahli. Interest from other English teams has also been reported, although the scenario remains subject to rumors and not to a closed operation.

His experience in the Premier League, where he stood out with Brentford, makes it easier for English clubs to know his performance and adaptation to the championship. However, any return will depend on the conditions that Al-Ahli accepts and the economic viability of the operation.

Darwin Núñez needs to regain continuity

Darwin Núñez, 27-year-old Uruguayan forward, represents a different case. After his time at Al-Hilal, the attacker was loaned to Al-Diriyah until 2027, with no option to buy, as reported by AS in September.

The team change responded to the need to regain prominence after an irregular first season in Saudi Arabia. During his time with Al-Hilal, he played 24 matches, scoring 9 goals and 5 assists, before missing league call-ups for part of the season due to restrictions on foreign players and the arrival of Karim Benzema.

His return to Europe does not seem as immediate as Félix's, as Núñez remains in Saudi Arabia and is under a sporting contract with Al-Diriyah through a loan. Nonetheless, his past at Benfica and Liverpool keeps open the possibility of returning to one of the major leagues if he regains regularity and an adequate proposal arises.

The January 2027 transfer market will be the first window to see if any of these cases progress. Saudi Arabia could lose Félix or Toney if European options solidify; for Núñez, the scenario will first depend on his performance with Al-Diriyah and Al-Hilal's plans.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, 3 jugadores de la liga saudí que podrían regresar a Europa