Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva is in talks to move to the Saudi Pro League when his current Etihad deal expires at the end of the season.
Silva was linked with a move to the Middle East over the summer but reportedly rejected a lucrative proposal as he wanted to focus on City ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The 31-year-old has been a key man for Pep Guardiola’s side this season, starting four of six league games and featuring off the bench for the other two.
Silva has been a mainstay in this City side since his arrival from Monaco in 2017 and is one of the most experienced players in the squad having play vital roles in domestic and continental success during his time at the club.
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However, the consensus is that Silva’s time in England is drawing to a close and with his contract up in the summer, he is able to negotiate a move away from City to an overseas side at the start of 2026.
Al-Hilal made Silva a lucrative offer worth over £500,000 per week in 2023, but are unlikely to make a move for the Portugal international next year.
talkSPORT are reporting that Saudi Pro League sides Al-Ahli and Al-Qadsiah are the most likely sides to firm up rumoured interest in Silva.
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Saudi officials are keen to add Portuguese players to the league following Cristiano Ronaldo’s success since moving to Al-Nassr in 2023.
Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix are among the other high-profile Portuguese stars to ply their trade in the Saudi Pro League.
Silva not the only Portuguese player wanted by Saudi sides
And Silva isn’t the only Portugal international that is wanted by Saudi sides, with compatriot Bruno Fernandes another who has been linked with a move to the league.
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Fernandes reportedly rejected a monster £700,000 a week contract with Al-Hilal over the summer, while Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad also hold an interest in the Manchester United captain.
However, Fernandes, like Silva, rejected the move to Saudi Arabia earlier this year to focus on the 2026 World Cup, which takes place in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Portuguese players may be the in-demand stars for Saudi Pro League sides but Harry Kane is another who high-profile Saudi sides will look to land next year.
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Kane, though, is keen to continue in Europe with a return to the Premier League a possibility for the England captain should he look to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old, who moved to Bayern in 2023, made history on Friday night as he scored his 99th and 100th goals for the German side in their 4-0 win over Werder Bremen.
In the process, he became the fastest player in history to reach the milestone for a side in Europe’s top five leagues, doing so in just 104 appearances, beating the previous record of 105 held by Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.
Topics: Bernardo Silva, Football, Manchester City, Premier League, Saudi Pro League
Ben McAleer