From Salah to Vinicius: Eight Big Names Who Could Head to Saudi Pro League This Summer 

As has been the case over the last few years, the Saudi Pro League continues to attract players eager to boost their earnings.

From established stars to emerging talents, many have already traded Europe for Saudi Arabia, and that trend looks likely to carry on this summer.

Here are eight players who could follow suit in the coming months.

Bernardo Silva

Manchester City confirmed on Thursday that long-serving stalwart Bernardo Silva will wave goodbye to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Nine years after joining the club from Monaco, the 31-year-old playmaker is ready to open a new chapter in his illustrious career, with Saudi Arabia potentially waiting in the wings.

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Silva has won six Premier League titles and could make it seven this term if Pep Guardiola’s charges pull off one of the greatest comebacks in league history.

Casemiro

Another legendary midfielder will depart the Premier League in the summer, with Casemiro already announcing his Manchester United exit midway through the season.

Despite drawing interest from several top European clubs, including Inter Milan, the former Real Madrid superstar is expected to continue his career on another continent.

In addition to several Saudi Pro League clubs, Casemiro has recently emerged as a potential target for Major League Soccer giants Inter Miami, where he could team up with Lionel Messi.

Marcus Thuram

Marcus Thuram is on the verge of winning his second Scudetto in his third Serie A season, yet his future could be far away from San Siro, as Inter appear ready to entertain offers for the French striker.

Though the 28-year-old has an €85 million release clause, the runaway Serie A leaders cannot realistically expect anyone to splash out such an astronomical figure for a player who has immensely struggled for form this term.

Aston Villa and Newcastle United have added Thuram to their lists of targets, but a mega-money transfer to the desert feels like a more plausible scenario.

Nicolas Jackson

Signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea last summer, Nicolas Jackson has spent most of his maiden Bundesliga campaign playing second fiddle to Bayern Munich’s goalscoring machine, Harry Kane.

Though the Bavarian Football Works argue the reasons why the record-time German champions should consider keeping the Senegalese striker at the Allianz Arena, his future could be in Saudi Arabia.

With Chelsea open to selling the 24-year-old, who has flopped at Stamford Bridge, this could be an opportunity for wealthy Middle East clubs to sign another elite player. 

Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala spent almost his entire senior career in Serie A, but after another injury-hit season, the Argentine forward is preparing to leave Italy after 14 years.

Dybala’s contract at the Stadio Olimpico runs out in less than two months, with Roma refusing to offer him a new deal, fuelling speculation about a move to the Saudi Pro League.

As one of Serie A’s highest earners, La Joya may view a switch to the desert as his last chance to make big bucks before calling time on his career.

Ousmane Dembele

Paris Saint-Germain talisman Ousmane Dembele has long been on the radar of Saudi Pro League clubs, and last year’s Ballon d’Or winner could be among the Saudis’ marquee targets in the upcoming transfer window.

Dembele’s potential move to the Middle East would represent a shift towards prime-age megastars, though Les Parisiens would be reluctant to sanction his departure without a substantial offer.

Indeed, the former Barcelona winger remains one of the club’s standout performers, with his match-winning double at Liverpool on Tuesday catapulting PSG into the Champions League semi-finals.

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah’s farewell season at Anfield has gone all wrong, with Liverpool facing the ignominy of finishing their title-defending Premier League campaign outside the top five.

Salah himself has been a shadow of the player who brought England’s top flight to its knees last term, scoring just six goals in 23 league appearances for Arne Slot’s out-of-sorts side.

Despite an underwhelming season, the 33-year-old boasts a host of admirers in the Saudi Pro League, where he is likely to sign his last lucrative contract before hanging up his boots.

According to TEAMtalk, former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has entered the race to add the Egyptian superstar to his star-studded Al-Qadsiah squad and pair him up with Italian striker Mateo Retegui.

Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior’s departure from Madrid has become a distinct possibility after the Brazilian forward fell out of favour with several teammates, including Jude Bellingham.

His strained relationship with Kylian Mbappe is no secret, and internal tensions could ultimately push him towards a high-profile exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Only a handful of European teams can afford the 25-year-old’s substantial wages, which increases the likelihood of a shock transfer to Saudi Arabia.

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