According to reports from Spain’s AS newspaper, there is a split within the Saudi league: the gap between the four “state-owned clubs” backed by the sovereign wealth fund PIF and other teams is becoming increasingly evident. While these clubs, supported by huge amounts of money, are spending lavishly in the transfer market, other teams are facing an unprecedented financial crisis.
Beyond the halo of PIF, reality appears particularly harsh. Al-Nassr Riyadh, Al-Hilal Riyadh, Al-Ittihad Jeddah, and Al-Ahli Jeddah, as well as Dammam Cooperative, although not part of PIF but also supported by the league, are actively signing famous stars and promising newcomers. Meanwhile, the strength of other teams’ lineups is continuously declining. Although some teams like Al-Kadisiyah can receive external support, such as backing from Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil companies, many teams are still experiencing serious sports crises. For example, when Al-Ittihad Jeddah signed Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa for 60 million euros, completing the final move of the transfer window, Mecca Unity could only welcome the new season with only 14 players.
The dream of Saudi Arabia creating a top-tier league in the world has encountered significant setbacks. On one side, there is abundant wealth; on the other, financial difficulties, with some teams facing severe issues even before the start of the new season. Clubs backed by PIF have a clear advantage in signing foreign players. The reason behind this disparity is simple: the institution responsible for approving the introduction of internationally renowned players treats PIF-backed clubs differently from others.
Last summer, Saudi Arabia caused a stir in the European transfer market. Saudi Arabia invested 1.5 billion euros, bringing in many top stars from international football as an investment in league development. Among them, Cristiano Ronaldo, Laporte, Mane, and Telles joined Al-Nassr Riyadh; Neymar, Malcom, Ruben Neves, and Bonnu joined Al-Hilal Riyadh; Benzema, Kanté, and Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad Jeddah; Mahrez, Firmino, Gabri Vega, and Kessié joined Al-Ahli Jeddah. These players could play key roles in almost any team in Europe.
However, other teams did not enjoy the same treatment. Apart from newly promoted Al-Kadisiyah daring to challenge the “Big Four,” most other clubs were inactive. Al-Kadisiyah has already signed two former La Liga players, Aubameyang and Nacho, as well as the promising newcomer Eki Fernandez from Boca Juniors, which aligns with the league’s U23 policy. Saudi Aramco is preparing to support a newly promoted team not directly controlled by PIF—although PIF is the controlling shareholder of the company. Beyond that, other clubs outside state control have little to highlight. For many fans, the professional league lacks professionalism and transparency in fund distribution.
Even among the “Big Four,” there is no unity. Reports indicate that problems are constantly surfacing within these giants. Information from Saudi Arabia suggests that Ronaldo’s team believes that PIF favors Al-Hilal Riyadh too much. When regulators limit Al-Nassr Riyadh under Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Al-Hilal Riyadh is able to spend over 200 million euros on transfers without any obstacles in strategic signings, while Al-Nassr Riyadh frequently encounters barriers.