Gary Neville has asked the Premier League to pause players’ transfers to Saudi Arabia for “integrity” reasons, but there is no sign of it stopping.
Ruben Neves joined Al-Hilal for £47m, a record for the Molineux club. Edouard Mendy is the latest European name linked with a deal to join the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante have already signed up, and Lionel Messi is also attracting interest. The league’s ambition to be one of the top five in the world is highlighted by the potential activity.
In June, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it was taking over four leading clubs in the country, including Al-Nassr.
There is uncertainty over whether PIF holds a stake in Chelsea’s ultimate owners, the private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
Neville believes the Premier League should put an instant embargo on transfers to ensure the integrity of the game isn’t being damaged and check on the appropriateness of the transactions.
Sky Sports pundit Jim McMahon has criticized the increasing Saudi Arabian spending in football, as English clubs Chelsea and Wolves face challenges in recruitment this summer.
Chelsea spent over £400m in transfers last season, while Wolves posted a £46.1m loss last year.
Wolves’ boss Julen Lopetegui emphasized the need to solve FFP issues to compete in the top flight.
Chelsea sources claim Saudi Arabia’s PIF has “zero interest” in the club, with 400 different investors across six continents. European governing body Uefa has not commented on multi-club ownership, but the Premier League has a fair value assessment system to ensure deals are conducted at market value.
The Saudi Pro League could significantly impact the market, as markets fluctuate and player values can change.
