In the last two years, the Roshn Saudi League, the professional football league in Saudi Arabia, has become one of the most financially attractive championships globally, ranking sixth in transfer spending behind the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and LaLiga. 

A report by Al Sharq News, using data from Bloomberg and Forbes, unveils the astronomical salaries of top players leaving Europe to join Saudi clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list with €263 million (around $285 million), over €200 million in salary and €60 million from advertising—far exceeding the earnings of other stars such as Neymar and Karim Benzema. 

Neymar, playing for Al Hilal, earns over €100 million between salary and endorsements, while Benzema, at Al Ittihad, receives €96 million, with only €4 million from advertising. Sadio Mané rounds out the top 4 with €48 million at Al Nassr. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only one

The report also highlights high-profile summer 2024 signings, including Ivan Toney at Al Ahli with over €23 million, and João Cancelo (Al Hilal) and Moussa Diaby (Al Ittihad), earning around €15 million each. Among younger players, Mohamed Simakan approaches the salary levels of Ronaldo and Benzema. 

Spanish player Álvaro Medrán earns €6 million, while Nacho Fernández and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, recently signed by Al Qadsiah—supported by Aramco—exceed €10 million each, significantly higher than their European wages. 

These moves demonstrate how the Saudi league, backed by substantial investments and sponsors like Aramco, has attracted international stars with lucrative contracts, establishing itself as a competitive and financially appealing destination within global football.