• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Saudi Pro League planning huge change to competition that could send shockwaves across world football

Home> Football> Saudi Pro League

Published 06:30 29 May 2024 GMT+1

Saudi Pro League planning huge change to competition that could send shockwaves across world football

This could be bad news for the top 5 leagues.

Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins

The Saudi Pro League is planning a 'radical change' that will affect how the competition is structured in order to challenge the top leagues in Europe.

The Saudi Pro League burst onto the scene following the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, as they secured the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo as a free agent.

Ronaldo's move to Saudi put millions of eyes on the league for the first time. Since then the Portugal captain has been followed by talents such as Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, and Sadio Mane who all joined last summer.

Advert

One of the strengths of the SPL can offer European talents extremely high wages due to the wealth of many of the clubs, but reports suggest the league could be about to make a huge change to enhance their pull.

Currently, four clubs in the Saudi Pro League are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, while most of the others receive funding from the Ministry of Sport.

Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League’s chief football executive has indicated plans for the "eventual privatisation of the rest of the clubs in the league" when speaking to The Telegraph.

Advert

The main aim for the SPL is to become a top-10 league globally, with Emenalo suggesting they have even more ambitious long-term goals.

“When you accept these type of projects with the associated ambition the goal is to be the best you can possibly be,” he said.

Ronaldo- Getty
Ronaldo- Getty

“Right now our goal is to be one of the top leagues in the world.

Advert

“Being No 1 is something that would be left to people in the future, whether that happens in 10 years, in 20 years, in 25 years, that would be welcome. But I think the place to start is to say we want to be the top league in the world.”

The SPL CEO also gave away some key transfer targets, suggesting that at the league's current stage, they will be looking to acquire the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah as they come to the end of their careers.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo

Tom Jenkins
Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins is a Social Editor and Journalist for SPORTBible. Specialises in Football and F1 but has experience covering a variety of sports such as MMA, Boxing and Cricket. Suffers weekly as an Evertonian.

X

@tomjenkns

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Pep Guardiola drops bombshell on Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush penalty mix-up that cost Man City the FA Cup

    Guardiola has made his feelings clear on the incident.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Crystal Palace star cruelly forced to miss FA Cup celebrations and trophy lift following win over Man City

    Palace lifted the FA Cup trophy at Wembley after beating Manchester City - but one of their key players was absent.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Dean Henderson confirms what he said to Pep Guardiola after the final whistle that enraged Man City boss

    Henderson and Guardiola had an angry exchange at the end of the FA Cup final.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Four Premier League clubs handed devastating blow after Crystal Palace win FA Cup final

    Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to lift their first-ever major trophy.

    Football
  • How much Cristiano Ronaldo has earned in Saudi Pro League since leaving Man Utd for Al Nassr
  • Al Nassr fans think it's time for Cristiano Ronaldo to 'leave the club' after what happened in their latest Saudi Pro League game
  • Cristiano Ronaldo's future takes 'shocking new twist' after Al-Nassr slip to fourth in Saudi Pro League
  • Shock club 'opens talks' with Neymar over stunning deal that would send shockwaves across world football