Saudi Arabian football is changing rapidly.

Europe is starting to worry as more and more elite young players reject the Champions League in favor of Saudi Arabian gold and central roles in multi-billion dollar projects.

Joao Felix joined Al-Nassr at the age of 25.

Just a few years ago, Saudi Arabia was still a "career twilight" destination for big stars – where Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar sought final contracts with enormous salaries. But today, that picture has changed dramatically.

The Saudi Pro League is now a vibrant destination for a generation of very young players, some even at the peak of their careers.

From Gabri Veiga to Enzo Millot: No more exceptions

The change began in the summer of 2023, when 21-year-old Gabri Veiga rejected Napoli – a club that had been closely pursuing him – to join Al Ahli for €35 million. His salary of €12 million per year was unimaginable for a young player who had never played in the Champions League. That decision was shocking at first, but it quickly set a precedent for a series of subsequent transfers.

The summer of 2025 saw another wave of U25 players flocking to Saudi Arabia. Enzo Millot, who was expected to join Atletico Madrid or Tottenham, unexpectedly switched to Al Ahli, the reigning Asian champions. Unai Hernández (20 years old), a gem from the La Masia academy, also chose Al Ittihad instead of continuing to make a name for himself in La Liga.

Even established names like Mateo Retegui – Serie A's top scorer with 25 goals last season – couldn't resist the financial allure of Saudi Arabia. He joined Al Qadsiah for a fee of €68.5 million, earning eight times more than he did at Atalanta (€20 million/year).

Saudi Arabian football now consists not only of players past their prime.

The emergence of young talents is not just a case of reckless spending. According to the Saudi Pro League's governing body, clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) (including Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli) have agreed to adopt an "8+2" model: eight foreign players of any age and two slots reserved for players under 21. This is part of a sustainable development strategy, aiming for immediate competitiveness while building a foundation for the future.

Saudi Arabian teams are not only targeting established young stars, but also paying attention to raw talents. Alejandro Vergaz (18 years old, from Betis) and Iker Almena (18 years old, from Girona) are two prime examples, recruited at relatively low costs but with high profit potential.

Who's next?

The wave of migration hasn't stopped. Joao Felix, who seemed poised to rejoin Benfica after a less-than-successful spell at Chelsea, chose to move to Al Nassr in a deal worth around €50 million. The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus – two influential figures in Saudi Arabia – was the deciding factor.

Currently, Antony (25 years old) of Manchester United is being targeted by two Saudi giants, although the Brazilian player still wants to remain in Europe. Al Hilal even sent an unbelievable offer to Alexander Isak: 700,000 euros per week after tax, equivalent to more than 36 million euros per year - a figure that could only come from the Middle East.

Furthermore, Darwin Nunez has also been confirmed as Al Hilal's "top target" after they missed out on Victor Osimhen. On the afternoon of August 6th, British media reported that the Uruguayan striker had agreed to move to Saudi Arabia.

Three years ago, no one would have thought a player under 25 would choose Saudi Arabia over the Champions League. Now, it's not just a reality, it's a trend. Huge salaries, the chance to be the center of sporting projects, an increasingly competitive environment – ​​all of these make the Pro League a desirable destination, not just for those looking to "retire early".

From being just an "exception" with Gabri Veiga, to a series of multi-million euro deals for promising players, Saudi Arabia is redrawing the global football map. And if this trend continues, the big names in Europe may have to reconsider their models – because the game is now different.

Source: https://znews.vn/bong-da-saudi-arabia-thay-doi-chong-mat-post1574692.html