Biggest Saudi Pro League Contracts: Find Out Who Tops The Lavish List

Since the beginning of 2023, the blueprint of the Saudi Pro League has changed drastically as it saw significant growth in attention from all corners of the world. At present, the popularity of the Middle Eastern football league is comparable to that of the major football leagues in Europe, with some of the greatest deals for the partakers. But before we look at the biggest contracts enjoyed by the players in this competition, let us understand how the Saudi Pro League has become a favourable destination among top footballers of late.

The tale dates back to January 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably one of the greatest players of all time, was controversially released from his contract by Premier League behemoths Manchester United. The Portuguese maestro decided to leave Europe and join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. His transfer to Saudi Arabia became a red-letter moment in Asian football’s history. Given his massive fan base, interest surrounding the league piqued almost overnight.

Following the success of Ronaldo’s transfer, in June 2023 the nation’s Public Investment Fund (one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world) acquired 75 per cent stakes in four founding members of the league — Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. This acquisition came with a hefty cash influx in the competition, thereby enabling the teams to attract top football players in the world by offering them lucrative monetary benefits.

The summer transfer window of 2023-24 saw the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema leave Real Madrid, perhaps the grandest club football side around the globe, to join the Saudi Pro League. Over the next few weeks, superstars such as Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino and Neymar Jr (among others) made their way to the ‘Land of Black Gold’.

At present, the Saudi Pro League is more than a monetary extravaganza — it is one of the most competitive football leagues in the world. Naturally, the top players in the league reap great dividends from their contracts with their respective sides. If you are curious about these deals, we have got you covered. Here is a curation of the biggest contracts in the Saudi Pro League, where we look at the highest-paid players in the competition and their salaries.

A look at the biggest Saudi Pro League contracts and salaries

Cristiano Ronaldo

Contract value: USD 533 million

Let us kick off the list of the biggest contracts in the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo. One of the most prominent ambassadors of football, Ronaldo surprised everyone when he announced his decision to leave Europe and join a Saudi Arabian club in January 2023. Many took to social media platforms to write him off as an old horse.

The Portuguese superstar, however, let his feet do the talking. To date, he has scored 48 goals in 55 appearances for Riyadh-based club Al-Nassr across all competitions. In addition, he was instrumental in revolutionising the landscape of club football across the globe. He is considered to be a pioneering figure in the Saudi Pro League as he paved the way for several stars of the sport to join him in the Middle East in the following months.

According to a report by Celebrity Net Worth, Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr is worth a mind-boggling USD 533 million (approximately). The terms of his contract see the Portuguese forward stay at the club for two-and-a-half years. This breaks down to a gigantic salary of USD 210 million per annum, undoubtedly making him the highest-paid player in the Saudi Arabian league.

Karim Benzema

Contract value: USD 436 million

By 2023, Karim Benzema had become synonymous with Real Madrid. He was the only remaining member of the hallowed ‘BBC’ trio — Bale (Gareth Bale), Benzema and Cristiano (Cristiano Ronaldo). So it broke the hearts of Madridistas around the globe when he decided to leave for Saudi Arabia at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Benzema won several UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, the latest of which came in 2022. By virtue of his performance that season, he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or title later that year. The talismanic marksman was also named the captain of the Madrid-based club for the 2022-23 season. However, the sum offered by Riyadh-based club Al-Ittihad was too alluring for the Frenchman to decline.

Multiple reports suggest that Benzema signed a contract with the Saudi Pro League side in June 2023 that promised him an annual salary of over USD 200 million, arguably one of the biggest in the competition. As a matter of fact, the French forward receives one of the highest payouts in the sporting fraternity.

Neymar Jr

Contract value: USD 327 million

If we are talking about big bucks, we surely cannot afford to forget mentioning Neymar Jr. To date, he holds the record for the highest transfer fee in football when Paris Saint-Germain splurged a Brobdingnagian sum of USD 263 million in 2016.

The Brazilian is injury-prone and, of late, has spent most of his days on the sidelines instead of playing for his team on the field. Regardless, Neymar attracts widespread media attention and is one of the modern-day stars of the sport.

Neymar made it to the headlines in the summer transfer window of 2023-24 on the back of his transfer to Al-Hilal.  Several sources initially suggested that the Brazilian was offered a contract by the Saudi Pro League side worth USD 300 million per year. However, it was later revealed that the sum is, in fact, a ballpark figure of his overall deal. Even then, it makes his contract one of the biggest in the Saudi Pro League.

In addition to the stupendous monetary benefits, Neymar reportedly received three luxury cars as part of his contract — a Bentley Continental GP, an Aston Martin DBX and a Lamborghini Huracan. He also received four Mercedes G Wagons and a Mercedes van. Moreover, the Brazilian forward was given a private jet and a lavish mansion with as many as 25 rooms.

Riyad Mahrez

Contract value: USD 283 million

When he started playing football, Riyad Mahrez would perhaps have not dreamt of enjoying the embellished career he has today. The Algerian was a part of the historic Leicester City side that won the Premier League title against all odds in 2015-16.

Following his success at the Leicester-based outfit, Mahrez joined Premier League titans Manchester City in the summer of 2018. He won the prestigious league title four more times, besides winning domestic cup tournaments (namely the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup). Mahrez lived the dream of winning the historic continental treble — the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League — with Manchester City in 2022-23 as the side became only the second English club to achieve this feat after Manchester United.

Mahrez bid adieu to the English and European champions after a successful stint to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. According to reports, his contract will see the captain of the Algerian national football team stay at the club till June 2027.

Sadio Mané

Contract value: USD 174 million

A prime member of the iconic Liverpool side that won the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League in consecutive seasons (in 2018-19 and 2019-20), Sadio Mané is widely considered to be one of the finest forwards of his generation and one of the greatest African players in the sport’s history. The Senegalese is renowned for his speed and dribbling skills.

After Liverpool, Mané enjoyed a successful stint with German side Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title and the DFL Supercup. The forward also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 with the Senegal national football team.

Mané left Munich in the 2023-24 summer transfer window to join forces with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. According to reports, the Saudi Arabian club signed one of the biggest contracts of the Saudi Pro League with the Senegalese which will run till June 2026.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Contract value: USD 151 million

A teammate of Sadio Mané in the Senegal national side, Kalidou Koulibaly is revered for his finesse as a central defender. He also possesses astute leadership qualities and has proven his worth as an able leader of men — he was the captain of the Senegal national football team that won the African Cup of Nations title in 2021.

Koulibaly’s most successful stint in European club football came with the Serie A club Napoli. In Italy, he won the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia. The defender was also a part of the Premier League behemoths Chelsea F.C. in the 2022-23 season.

Multiple reports suggest that Koulibaly joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the 2023-24 summer transfer window for a fee of around USD 24.4 million. The Senegalese defender reportedly signed a contract with the Saudi Arabian team that will run till June 2026.

Aleksandar Mitrović

Contract value: USD 109 million

An underrated player, Aleksander Mitrović has proved time and again why he deserves to rank among the most prolific strikers in modern-day football. The Serbian has been an integral part of English domestic football, and during his stint with Newcastle United and Fulham, he scored 128 goals in 278 matches.

Mitrović was marked as a key target by the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The Middle Eastern side signed him in the 2023-24 summer transfer market for an estimated fee of USD 64 million. He soon proved to everyone why he is worth every penny — in 31 matches for Al-Hilal to date, the Serbian has found the back of the net on a staggering 30 occasions. That’s almost a goal in each match!

Besides club football, Mitrović has been successful in the international sphere. He has played 87 matches for his nation so far and has scored 57 goals. The striker was a part of Serbia’s 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup campaigns. Given that his contract keeps him at Al-Hilal till June 2026, the Serbian will have ample opportunities to rack up more career goals in the Middle East.

N’Golo Kanté

Contract value: USD 109 million

N’Golo Kanté is arguably one of the most decorated midfielders of his generation. In recent years, he has won the all-important FIFA World Cup (in 2018), the UEFA Champions League (in 2020-21), the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup (both in 2021).

The Frenchman is revered for his impressive work rate and defensive acumen. His long list of achievements makes him one of the most sought-after players in the world of football. It is, therefore, natural that any club aiming to rope him in needs to present a lucrative offer. That is exactly what Al-Ittihad did.

According to a host of sources, Chelsea F.C. was looking to extend Kanté’s contract with the club. However, the sum offered by Al-Ittihad was too alluring for him to turn down. The terms of his contract with the Middle Eastern side will see Kanté stay in the Saudi Pro League till June 2026.

Sergej Milinković-Savić

Contract value: USD 109 million

Another Serbian in the mix, Sergej Milinković-Savić is famously known for his stint with Serie A side Lazio where he played for eight years. He won the Italian League’s Best Midfielder award in 2018-19.

One of the finest midfielders in the modern era, Milinković-Savić is a versatile player who can switch between defensive and attacking roles with ease. He is often compared to the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Yaya Touré for his style of play. The summer transfer window of 2023-24 saw Milinković-Savić join forces with his compatriot and fellow national teammate Aleksander Mitrović in Al-Hilal.

Much akin to his fellow Serbian striker, Milinković-Savić is due to stay at Al-Hilal till June 2026 by virtue of his contract. He enjoys one of the biggest contracts in the Saudi Pro League, and should he enjoy widespread success at the Middle Eastern club, the terms of his contract might become more lucrative in the future.

Aymeric Laporte

Contract value: USD 107 million

Last but not least in our list of the biggest contracts in the Saudi Pro League is that of Aymeric Laporte. A new-age defender, the Spanish footballer grew in the tutelage of Pep Guardiola in Manchester City before making his way to the Middle East.

Laporte left Spain in January 2018 to join the Premier League outfit. In his debut season at Manchester, he helped his side achieve 100 points in England’s highest football league, a record which remains intact to date. Laporte has enjoyed widespread success with Manchester City — he has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cup crowns, three Carabao Cup trophies, and one UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup each. He was also a part of Manchester City’s domestic treble win in 2019 and continental treble win in 2023.

Although he is French by birth, the centre-back received his Spanish citizenship in 2021. He has featured in 26 matches for the Spanish national side to date and was a member of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League-winning team. Laporte joined Al-Nassr in the 2023-24 summer transfer window to partner with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and Alex Telles, among other stars.

(Main Image Credits: Cristiano Ronaldo/Instagram and Neymar Jr/Instagram; Featured Image Credits: Sadio Mane/Instagram)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Which is the biggest Saudi Pro League contract of 2024? 
As of March 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr is the biggest in the Saudi Pro League.