Arabia runs out of money

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12/09/26 16:15:00

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The transfer market in Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced its investment during the summer of 2026, with around €350 million allocated for international transfers, the lowest figure since the massive influx of stars in 2023. The change affects clubs in the Saudi Pro League, which have begun to prioritize lower-cost operations and players with development potential.

The volume is equivalent to approximately $407 million, according to data released this week from FIFA's transfer report. This figure places Saudi Arabia in seventh place globally in terms of expenditure, although with a considerable distance from the levels reached during the early stages of its major international expansion.

Saudi Arabia reduces the weight of money in the market

The difference compared to 2023 marks a scaling-down. That summer, Saudi Pro League clubs spent $957 million on transfers, as per Deloitte, with operations such as Neymar's arrival at Al Hilal forming part of an investment aimed at raising the league's international impact.

In 2026, the market has retained top-tier names, but with a different economic profile. Al Hilal accounted for approximately 42% of Saudi spending and signed Gabriel Martinelli, Crysencio Summerville, and Ollie Watkins, while the average transaction amount dropped by a third compared to 2023.

Martinelli arrived from Arsenal for €65 million and signed until 2031, illustrating the new approach: Saudi Arabia continues to pay high amounts but focuses on younger players instead of building the market solely around veterans with extraordinary contracts.

The change also impacts Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr. The club faced restrictions on signing players because it had to finance its operations through its own revenues, in a context where its debts exceeded 800 million riyals, around $213 million, as reported in July.

The Saudi Pro League seeks a sustainable model

The new scenario aligns with the measures taken by the Saudi Pro League. In May 2026, the league initiated the second phase of its player acquisition program, distributing funds based on criteria related to sporting performance, TV audiences, and each club's commercial activities.

The league itself emphasized this position earlier this week. On September 9th, an advisor to its executive board highlighted that financial sustainability, governance, and club development are the cornerstones of the next stage for Saudi football.

This process is linked to Saudi Vision 2030, which includes the progressive professionalization and privatization of sports clubs to attract private capital and enhance their financial structures. In 2025, the Ministry of Sports transferred financial oversight to the Saudi Pro League and implemented measures to control budgets and streamline expenditures.

Therefore, Saudi Arabia is not withdrawing from the international market, but money is no longer the sole driver. The upcoming transfer window will reveal whether clubs maintain this expenditure limit and whether Cristiano Ronaldo and new signings fit into a model where investments must increasingly rely on their own revenues and commercial performance.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Arabia se queda sin blanca