September 11 – Saudi Pro League’s transfer window closed at the end of last week showing club spending hitting a record $957 million and rocketing the Saudi clubs into being the second highest spending league in the world behind the English Premier League’s $1.39 billion spend in the summer window.
September 5 – Saudi Arabian and Iranian clubs, drawn together in the Champions League, will for the first time play matches on a home-and-away since 2015. Since 2016 clubs from the two nations drawn against each other in AFC competition were mandated to play ties at neutral venues.
August 28 – Just two weeks after quitting the Italian men’s national team, Roberto Mancini has been appointed coach of the Saudi Arabia national team.
August 25 – All forms of betting may be illegal in Saudi Arabia, but the rules do not extend to Saudi-owned Newcastle United who have announced a multi-year partnership with online bookmaker Sportsbet.io.
August 18 – The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has strengthened ties with Oceania, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The confederation said that the MoU does not involve a cash investment by Saudi Arabia in the region.
August 16 – Neymar has officially become the latest superstar player to follow the financial gravy train to the Saudi Pro League after completing a move to Al Hilal for a reported €90 million after six topsy-turvy seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
August 15 – Lionel Messi might have opted for the MLS but yet another superstar looks set to join the gravy train to Saudi Arabia with Neymar reported to be quitting Paris Saint-Germain to move to Al-Hilal.
August 2 – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has urged FIFA to look into Saudi Arabia’s transfer window closing three weeks after Europe’s, fearing major European leagues will lose more players without being able to replace them.
August 2 – Another day, another high-profile footballing export to Saudi Arabia. Sadio Mane has become the latest big name to quit European football for the Saudi Pro League after agreeing to join Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich and team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
August 2 – Fabinho has completed a €46.7 million switch from Liverpool to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League which will see him earn £700,00 per week over the course of his three-year deal.
July 27 – The Kylian Mbappé saga is rolling on after the French superstar reportedly snubbed a world record offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.
July 25 – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) has responded to Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the game by saying he “wouldn’t be too concerned at the moment” about the situation.
July 24 – Could the exodus of elite players to Saudi Arabia be about to take its most sensational step yet?
July 24 – Former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, now the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, has spoken of his new role leading the country’s Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence (PACE).
July 14 – Leading Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo now plays, have been banned by FIFA from registering any more new players until they settle a dispute with England’s Leicester City.