Ex-Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is reportedly in line for a return to the Premier League. Displaced by Karim Benzema at Al-Hilal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham are all said to be monitoring the 26-year-old as he seeks a redemption arc to silence the critics who once labelled him a flop at Anfield.
Cristiano Ronaldo is seeing questions asked of whether he has fled the Middle East amid mounting political tension in the region, with the Portuguese superstar’s private jet leaving Saudi Arabia for Madrid in the middle of the night. Riyadh, where CR7 is based with current club side Al-Nassr, has been struck by Iranian bombs as a conflict with the United States intensifies.
Bruno Fernandes has been informed that Manchester United can afford to lose him, despite his obvious value to the collective cause, with Lee Sharpe telling GOAL why a summer transfer elsewhere could happen. Portugal international Fernandes has been a talismanic presence across six years at Old Trafford, but questions continue to be asked of his short and long-term future.
Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus has moved to allay fears regarding the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward was forced off during his side’s hard-fought victory on Saturday. The Saudi Pro League title race took a dramatic turn as the Riyadh giants secured a 3-1 win over Al-Fayha, but the sight of their captain limping off injured late in the second half left fans concerned. Despite the scare, the victory allowed Al-Nassr to leapfrog Al-Ahli and reclaim their spot at the top of the table.
The Saudi Pro League title race took yet another twist on Saturday night as Al-Nassr battled from behind away at Al-Fayha to snatch a 3-1 victory. Cristiano Ronaldo scuffed an early penalty wide and cut a frustrated figure before limping off injured, but saw his team wrestle back all three points and retake top spot from Al-Ahli.
Chelsea have been advised to consider a transfer swoop for Darwin Nunez, with Marcel Desailly telling the Blues why the ex-Liverpool forward could end up being another Dennis Bergkamp. The mercurial Uruguayan striker endured a tough spell at Anfield, but a World Cup winner believes that he could thrive in the right surroundings - as Bergkamp once did at Arsenal.
Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.
How many teams are in the Saudi Pro League?
Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.
Who has made the most Saudi Pro League appearances ever?
Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Saudi Pro League?
Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.
Which famous players have played in the Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Saudi Pro League?
Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.
What is the biggest stadium in the Saudi Pro League?
The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.
Who is the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping £77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.