In a summer marked by unprecedented spending in the football world, Premier League clubs have spent over three times more than Saudi Pro League clubs on transfers so far this summer.
Premier League clubs have set a staggering record by shelling out a colossal £2.36 billion on new players – a figure which dwarfs the £728 million that has so far been spent by the Saudi Pro League clubs.
The financial whirlwind that was the 2023 transfer window has left the previous spending record of £1.92 billion, set just last summer, trailing in its wake by a remarkable margin of £440 million, according to financial services giant Deloitte.
The sheer magnitude of Premier League clubs’ expenditure during this transfer window was underscored by the astonishing £255 million spent on deadline day alone.
This figure stands in stark contrast to the £120 million spent on the final day of last summer’s transfer window.
Consequently, the 2023-24 season has already clinched the title of the second-highest transfer spend ever, following closely on the heels of last season’s jaw-dropping £2.73 billion – and with the January window still looming.
Yet, while the Premier League flaunted its financial prowess, the Saudi Pro League made a formidable entrance into the global football arena.
In a bid to establish itself as one of the most competitive leagues worldwide, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund recently assumed control of four of the nation’s premier teams: Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli.
Moreover, the remaining 14 top-flight clubs also attracted some marquee players.
Deloitte’s data reveals that Saudi Pro League clubs have already splurged £690.55 million (or 805 million Euros) this summer, with a hefty £245 million of that sum directed towards Premier League players.
This colossal spending spree catapults the Saudi Pro League to fourth place in the global summer spending rankings, trailing only the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Serie A.
And the Saudi Pro League’s shopping spree may not be over yet. With their transfer window slated to close on September 20th, there’s still room for more high-value acquisitions.
In fact, Al-Ittihad’s audacious £150 million bid for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah remains unresolved, hinting at the potential for even more financial fireworks in the football transfer market.
