Will the transfers to the Saudi league become a problem for European football?

[ethereumhunter]

Soccer players are like mercenaries. They go to the side which offers the most generous offer. If arabian soccer industry is able to afford top tier players in the world, of course the Saudi league is going to take protagonism in global soccer, finally overcoming european ones. It's early to say it yet, but without any doubts there is a clear tendency being drawn here: the downfall of european soccer and the rise of the east.

That's true and that's why if those footballers all chose to move to the Saudi League, it would change the face of football and there is a possibility that European leagues would suffer a setback. And it will be a new chapter for the football league, Europe, and the whole world. And we will see a revival of the Saudi League and it will compete with the Europa League but if all those top footballers move to the Saudi League, the Europa League will struggle to cope.

Maybe the Europa League can look for talented players in their countries. Still, it will obviously take time so the Europa League may experience a shortage of talented players and will only use existing players. And we will see what will happen with the leagues around the world, whether there will be offers from the Saudi League or only taking players from the European League.

[1714567900]

1714567900

[EarnOnVictor]

Money speaking!

The Saudi Professional League is a very attractive league now, especially for those who have already built their career in football. As it is now, this league is trying to woo the well-known footballers into it and I see nothing bad in that. There are no FIFA and other governing bodies' rules at present that prohibit such, once the bargain is reached, a deal would be struck.

Yet, it might later be a competition between Europe and Saudi over time, particularly on preferred players. This will only increase the demand for some targeted players and shoot the price higher if it persists. And note that forces of the three parties involved will always play out, the Saudi, EPL/Others and players involved.

None can also force the other to go or hold back if there is no bidding contract between them.

[Webetcoins]

This definitely has been a crazy year for football in the Middle East, so many big names transfered over there. The question now is what is going to happen in Europe, and my answer is that probably not much is going to change. First of all Europe can't compete against the prices offered in Saudi Arabia, these are state sponsored teams that receive direct money out of the oil trade. There is no real point in trying to compete and just let the players leave. As long as there is no direct tournaments between Europe and the middle east like letting them join champions league or other big cups I don't see a problem. The level of European football might fall for a while, but us eventually going to recover. What makes football so special in Europe or south America is the fans, there are million of people watching all the games and go to the stadium. Just because a few big names are now moving to Saudia Arabia it's not going to change the fan landscape. People follow their regional teams, because that is where they visit the stadium. Only a very small majority might consider rooting for a middle eastern team because their favorite player is transferring there. I think the hype some of these players will fade over time as some fans are angry towards the player for going so far away and selling out.

You are so very wrong about the mindset of the fans regarding this matter. European clubs have had these huge fan followings only because the clubs had their favorite players. A fan of Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't be rooting for Juventus now when Ronaldo isn't a part of the team, similarly, every single player that moves out of a club basically takes his fan following with him to the other club that he joins no matter which continent he moves to and that is a fact.

So, all these players moving from Europe to the Middle East will have a huge impact on the fan following of the European Leagues and clubs that they've been a part of. We can already see this but this will be more evident in the times to come. So these transfers are also going to cause a plunge in the attendants at stadiums of European leagues for sure.

[borovichok]

Money speaking!

The Saudi Professional League is a very attractive league now, especially for those who have already built their career in football. As it is now, this league is trying to woo the well-known footballers into it and I see nothing bad in that. There are no FIFA and other governing bodies' rules at present that prohibit such, once the bargain is reached, a deal would be struck.

Yet, it might later be a competition between Europe and Saudi over time, particularly on preferred players. This will only increase the demand for some targeted players and shoot the price higher if it persists. And note that forces of the three parties involved will always play out, the Saudi, EPL/Others and players involved.

None can also force the other to go or hold back if there is no bidding contract between them.

Money is everything for these players; this is not the historical era of football, when players played for their passion of the game; alternatively, it is the contemporary era, where players play for the enormous payments they receive. This summer, the Saudi Pro League is bringing in substantial and famous big names. It's more like shifting your concentration from the impending league to the realm of popularity league. They emerged into the enormous space of European football when they first signed Cristiano Ronaldo, an established player in Europe; this maneuver was advantageous for them because his presence created additional opportunities for bringing in good European players with minimal efforts to date.

[Sithara007]

This is crossing a limit. Why these Europeans always behave like cry-babies? No one ever complained when a lot of Asian, Latin American and African players decided to opt for the UEFA leagues instead of their own local leagues. Leagues in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Japan and Nigeria suffered as a result of this. However no one ever published any news articles examining the negatives that non-European leagues had to deal with. Now the Saudi clubs are giving Europeans a taste of their own medicine and suddenly there is so much hue and cry. There can be no better example for hypocrisy.

[8rch7]

Before mega transfer to Saudi Pro League teams there are many players move to Chinese Super League but its not defend for long time until several Chinese Super teams got bankrupt and many player back to European. Seems almost the same with Saudi Pro League although they have much money than Chinese Super League teams but have moment with European football won' to play there.
Not all football agree playing for the money because many of them want to play with passion and push up their career to be top player, they have motivation winning as many possible trophies still in the young age and retired one day later with teams want to pay bigger salary. Have been two season with Saudi League most interested, I don't think will extend for several years later because if still have much money some European football want to priority their career than earn much money.

[Synchronice]

I think European football have enough good players to not feel all these leaving players to the Middle East.In there they have a lot of money and they now want to entertain themselves with football so they are offering astronomical amounts of money for a football player transfer.The only problem this creates is that now huge sums are being paid for such players and in Europe too when making a transfer or buying a new player will ask bigger amounts than usual,in fact in Italy are already complaining about this fact that they cannot buy a good player for the amount used before to buy such player.Other than this problem I don't think it will create as Europe has tons of great players still.

At the moment European football clubs have good players but this talk is about the long-term strategy that Middle Easterners have. Footballers like Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar are no ordinary players and they have a huge fanbase. In fact, a lot of people were fan of Barcelona and Real Madrid because of Messi and Ronaldo. So, if they steal a lot of players with high influence, European football won't be as popular as it was earlier and that's definitely a danger.
I really wonder, how much are these guys earning from oil business that they are able to spend billions of dollars like it's nothing while Europeans have to work really very hard to get wealthy.

[Bitinity]

The club in the European League or any league with world class players will lose their best players if everyone decides to move to clubs in Saudi Arabia because clubs in Saudi Arabia can afford to pay world class players very expensively beyond what they are paid before. Anyone will be tempted by the fees obtained at clubs in Saudia Arabia. It is not surprising that the European League or other leagues will not be as attractive as before.

If the Europa League doesn't want to lose players, they should be able to pay at least a little more than what players could be paid if clubs in Saudia Arabia made their offers for those players. But that of course, will make European clubs and others will experience a budget deficit. Or European clubs must be able to get other more talented players through a very strict team acceptance selection to get talented players in their country.

if this trend will continue, european clubs will soon find themselves that their superstars are not on their league anymore. the saudi league is willing to give high fees to these athletes, so if the athlete will be practical on things, they will accept the offer for the time being, just to get that offer of a lifetime. but this will be a very good opportunity for the new young blood to enter on this sports, and show what they got for this sports.

It may continue but I think it will be for few years only, as I said previously, it is just like a hype/trend only. Remember when there was similar moment in the past when some European players decided to move to Chinese Super League? I think what is happening now is just the same as that moment. Although Saudi Pro league is offering higher salary for star players but the prestige and the pride will always bigger in European leagues.

[sana54210]

I do not think that it will be a "problem", they are sending the players they do not want and nobody else wants to Saudi clubs to make as much profit as they possibly could from these players, that's a good thing and not a bad thing if you ask me. I know that some people may give a few names that were good and not just unwanted players but those are still rare and those still cost a ton of money, like unheard of amounts of money.

Saudis could continue to pay players that much money, but it all comes out of the kings family, and that is why it is going to be tough to keep doing this. I bet that they are going to change somethings in the future and they will not be happy with the result when the time comes as well.

[Huppercase]

Money is everything for these players; this is not the historical era of football, when players played for their passion of the game; alternatively, it is the contemporary era, where players play for the enormous payments they receive. This summer, the Saudi Pro League is bringing in substantial and famous big names. It's more like shifting your concentration from the impending league to the realm of popularity league. They emerged into the enormous space of European football when they first signed Cristiano Ronaldo, an established player in Europe; this maneuver was advantageous for them because his presence created additional opportunities for bringing in good European players with minimal efforts to date.

There are other players that value dignity over money and that was what Messi did when he was offered a whooping deal of $500m per season to come to Saudi Arabia, 2 years deal could go to $1B but man turn down the deal, today he would have been the highest paid player in the word, even Ronaldo didn't have that high value, Mbape didn't come close, they knew how valuable Messi and used money to attract him but he humbly refuse but instead went to Inter Miami, the worst team in MLS with $150M for 2 and half years with a share from the club, aside from been the greatest player, he also won people's heart for been humble.

The players that are going there shouldn't be blame, who see money and ignore it for the passion you have, I just think that Saudi Arabia are over stretching deals in other to capture the players but there is nothing wrong in players decisions though, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Drogba era were ballistic but the pays weren't great like that but yet they played, won Balon D'or and World cup but players like Mbape had fame when they are little and have enjoyed the privilege of European clubs, now that Saudia Arabia has step up their game, I don't see it as bad idea for players to earn money, passion and money goes together.

In addition, inflation has affected all price of items, players are not excluded, the amount players were been sold last season are different from now, if they don't increase these payments, the interest will not come from the players and Saudi knows that having this money on the table is the only way they can push the agenda of bringing those players to Saudi Arabia.

[Cryptomultiplier]

I read every day about a new superstar moving to the saudi league and I think this is slowly becoming a problem for European football. I grew up with the fact that all footballers in the world are pursuing the dream of playing football in a top European league at some point. For me, leagues like the Premiere League, La Liga, Seria A or the German Bundesliga are part of it. But even our weaker leagues were popular to players to prove themselves as good players.

The European clubs have also paid almost the best salaries or transfer fees worldwide. China has been able to attract a few good players like Iniesta or Hulk with high salaries, but these were just very few players. Since Ronaldo's move, we've been faced with the big problem that a lot of top players have followed him, some of whom are very young, and of course that's very good for the Saudi league, but European football is losing very important and great talents.

The current year is the first year where so many players change at the same time, if this should continue for another 2-3 years I can well imagine that Europe will run out of good and well-known footballers. With the salaries that are paid, it is also understandable for me that the footballers change and the clubs sell the players, but how do you think the whole thing will continue? Will European football lose its special position?

And while I was writing this, I read again about a new possible move: Mo Salah is said to move to Saudi Arabia for a transfer fee of €100m and a yearly earn of €200m. Just crazy!

Here is a list of well-known footballers who have already transferred:

To Al Hilal:
Neymar
Koulibaly
Milinkovic-Savic
Ruben Neves
Mitrovic
Bono

To Al-Ittihad:
Kanté
Benzema
Fabinho

To Al-Ahli:
Mendy
Firmino
Mahrez
Merih Demiral
Allan Saint-Maximin
Ibanez
Kessie

To Al-Nassr:
Ronaldo
Brozovic
Mané
Fofana
Alex Telles
Laporte

To Al-Ettifaq:
Moussa Dembelé
Henderson

Almost all the aforementioned players have made a meaningful impact in the various leagues and clubs they played for. They are close to retirement and have seen it all. They might not have won the awards or trophy they desired, but in one way or another, endorsement deals and a good name have been made, what's more to add if not more money till retirement?

With these transfers to the Saudi league, no doubt the improvement in the Saudi pro league would be felt by all, because these transfers are mostly for experienced players.
I believe if you see the house recently occupied by Neymar and his family, you would get to understand why the money move and soft life makes sense.

[sokani]

I don't see this as a problem to the european clubs, some of those players that moved to the SPL are old and have passed their peak while others have limited game time at their former clubs. It is the dream of every player to play at the biggest club in the world and to compete at the highest level, the champions league is still the biggest competition as long as football is concern. Not every player will be swayed by the fat pockets of the Saudis, Mbappe proved it when he turned down the lucrative deal from Al Hilal because he wants to be in europe. BTW europe has a lot of talents so no matter the numbers of players that are leaving there's still going to more players to retake their spots, also Financial Fair Play (FFP) might step in to control the transfer activities of the Saudi Arabian clubs.

[alastantiger]

Before I go ahead to make my comments, I have a very crucial question to ask on this matter that is, if the European clubs paid as good as their Saudi counterparts, would it discourage the players from moving there? Well, I do not see any problem with this , these players moved from smaller clubs to the European clubs to get the fat paycheck and the exposure and now they are moving to Saudi Arabia for the pay and improve their league. Nothing bad here just the circle of football life happening. But the Saudis should know that they will need to hire the best coaches out of their jobs to get their league to be able to compete on the world stage.

[Sandra_hakeem]

I feel it'll become a big problem in future... I was just thinking of this some time ago until i got into this post... The Arabians are tryna wheel the attention and fame of the whole European football to themselves - But they all thought between themselves that it's not possible without inducing fascinating offers to European licensed footballers - now, the effects is oozing rapidly...
I believe that's Thier target, especially since they're also on multi billion projects that are anticipated 2030. Except there are ways to curb the transfer actions, boundaries are required immediately.

Sandra 🧑‍🦰

[Casdinyard]

It would be for sure. They are reeling in powerhouses of players which will definitely show in the performance of European Football moving forward. It would even affect its viewership since now, if you want to watch your idols play you'd have to tune in to the Saudi League instead of waiting for these new bloods from the European League to ripen up and be on par with the veterans. In any case this doesn't mean that the European League is done for. It's well established enough to suffer such defeat so I think the transfer of these players to newer leagues would incite major hiccups in the viewership and performance of the European League, but overtime the skill and anticipation of the people will catch up with it again.

[TelolettOm]

It may continue but I think it will be for few years only, as I said previously, it is just like a hype/trend only. Remember when there was similar moment in the past when some European players decided to move to Chinese Super League? I think what is happening now is just the same as that moment. Although Saudi Pro league is offering higher salary for star players but the prestige and the pride will always bigger in European leagues.

It is totally different with the hype of European players moving to Chinese league. Saudi clubs did something much bigger than Chinese league. They have almost unlimited money to pay the transfer fees and players' salaries. So, even super stars players like Ronaldo, Benzema, and Neymar wants to accept Saudi clubs offers. As long as Saudi clubs can give big money to European players, I assume this hype will last a long time. Unless there is a regulation that will limit the funds of each Saudi club to sign new players. If there is a such regulation, Saudi clubs may be difficult to attract top players from Europe leagues to come to SPL.

[Sithara007]

It is totally different with the hype of European players moving to Chinese league. Saudi clubs did something much bigger than Chinese league. They have almost unlimited money to pay the transfer fees and players' salaries. So, even super stars players like Ronaldo, Benzema, and Neymar wants to accept Saudi clubs offers. As long as Saudi clubs can give big money to European players, I assume this hype will last a long time. Unless there is a regulation that will limit the funds of each Saudi club to sign new players. If there is a such regulation, Saudi clubs may be difficult to attract top players from Europe leagues to come to SPL.

The intent is also different. The Chinese were hoping that when star overseas players participate in the national league, the local players will benefit form it and learn tactics from them. But it never worked out that way. A number of foreign players landed in China, but even after many years that didn't resulted in any appreciable rise in quality of play among the local players. One of the reasons that I could assume is that the style of play of these foreign players is not that suitable for the local Chinese players. Anyway, Saudi Arabia is not trying to repeat this mistake. Their primary aim is to make that country a global sporting hub.

[len01]

It would be for sure. They are reeling in powerhouses of players which will definitely show in the performance of European Football moving forward. It would even affect its viewership since now, if you want to watch your idols play you'd have to tune in to the Saudi League instead of waiting for these new bloods from the European League to ripen up and be on par with the veterans. In any case this doesn't mean that the European League is done for. It's well established enough to suffer such defeat so I think the transfer of these players to newer leagues would incite major hiccups in the viewership and performance of the European League, but overtime the skill and anticipation of the people will catch up with it again.

as I said before that the large transfers carried out by teams from the SPL do not mean to give bad things to the European league. I mean, even though many star players were bought by teams from Saudi Arabia, that does not mean the league in Europe will lose its popularity because Europe is already very well established in terms of popularity and it is known throughout the country that the European league is the biggest football league in the world, so even though it lost several star players will not be a problem for teams in Europe and will still have many fans and spectators who will watch every match.

and the efforts of teams from the SPL are the same as teams in Europe in the past when they increased their popularity before they could be known throughout the country and this will be mutually beneficial between teams from Europe and teams from the SPL when European teams get big profits from offers of money with large values and the saudi arabia team got the star player they wanted and to be honest i support this.

[poodle63]

BTW europe has a lot of talents so no matter the numbers of players that are leaving there's still going to more players to retake their spots, also Financial Fair Play (FFP) might step in to control the transfer activities of the Saudi Arabian clubs.

It's hard to imagine that. In fact, saudi club have been spending billions to buy the new players from european continent, but FIFA was not even commenting it. Numerous complaints about saudi's aggressive transfers have been appearing but i remind you that there was no FFP in saudi pro league.
It's different with EUFA that was implementing FFP for european club while saudi can spend as much as possible to buy the new players. I do not even think we will see FFP to be implemented into the SPL.

We will not see FIFA to take a further step to pervent saudi caused by money talks much in this case.

[beerlover]

BTW europe has a lot of talents so no matter the numbers of players that are leaving there's still going to more players to retake their spots, also Financial Fair Play (FFP) might step in to control the transfer activities of the Saudi Arabian clubs.

It's hard to imagine that. In fact, saudi club have been spending billions to buy the new players from european continent, but FIFA was not even commenting it. Numerous complaints about saudi's aggressive transfers have been appearing but i remind you that there was no FFP in saudi pro league.
It's different with EUFA that was implementing FFP for european club while saudi can spend as much as possible to buy the new players. I do not even think we will see FFP to be implemented into the SPL.

We will not see FIFA to take a further step to pervent saudi caused by money talks much in this case.

This is the reason, when one place has no rule against the financial situation and they can buy anyone at any price they want, it is obvious that they are going to end up with a good result one way or another. I think it should be important to notice that it is going to be fine for them.

I still do not think that it is a big deal though, it costs them way too much to get a player compared to other places, they still have to get players for much more money if they want to get them. Look at Ronaldo, it was a good "business" decision to get him, which opened the door for other players, but he is getting paid unreal amount of money, it shouldn't be possible for single player to get that much money if you ask me.