Top 11 highest-earning Saudi Pro League players – with Neymar only in third
The Saudi Pro League has blown the football transfer market apart this year by enticing some of the biggest names in the game to the Middle East.
Cristiano Ronaldo set the ball rolling by joining Al Nassr following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United. And with their bottomless pockets, Saudi have managed to attract other stars of the world game, including Karim Benzema and Neymar.
Even the Premier League has been unable to fend off the Saudi’s financial muscle, with Jordan Henderson, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez among the players to be lured away from the English top flight.
Money, and lots of it, has clearly been a driving factor with some of the wages being dished out truly eye-popping. Here’s a list of the top earners in the Saudi Pro League…
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Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Hilal)
The Sebrian forced his way out of Fulham to complete his move to Saudi, where he is believed to be earning £21.3m a year
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Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq)
The most controversial of the Premier League defectors given his previous statements about gay rights, estimates over his annual earnings vary wildly from £18m to £36m. He has denied the higher figure which, if true, would see pick up £700,000 a week.
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Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)
Manchester City received around £30m for the Algerian superstar, who is believed to be earning £25.6m per year.
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Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal)
After just a year at Chelsea, the Senegal centre-back was on his way for a fee of around £17m. He is picking up in the region of £30m a year.
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Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr)
The Croatian midfielder was part of the Inter Milan side which reached last season’s Champions League final. Estimates over his annual salary range from £21m to £35m. Either way, he won’t go hungry!
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Sadio Mane (Al Nassr)
After an unhappy spell with Bayern Munich, the Senegal star is now making £34m a year, just over £650,000 a week.
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Fabinho (Al Ittihad)
Another midfielder prised away from Liverpool, the Brazilian is said to be on £36.4m per year. After signing a three-year deal with the Saudi champions, he will pick up well in excess of £100m while in the Middle East.
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N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad)
The biggest earner behind the league’s unofficial ‘big three’, the fact the popular midfielder was out of contract at Chelsea will have boosted his earnings, believed to be £86.2m per annum.
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Neymar (Al Hilal)
He might be seen as damaged goods following an unhappy end to his PSG career, but that didn’t put off the Saudis, who are willing to plough £129m per year (2.5m a week) into his bank balance.
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However, the Brazilian superstar is some way behind the top two in the wages league.
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Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)
The Frenchman is picking up a whopping £172m per year (£3.3m per week).
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The 35-year-old is just behind a certain former Manchester United and Real Madrid star in the list.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
The man to set the Saudi ball rolling, the Portuguese great reputedly earns a staggering £3.4m per week.
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Ronaldo is on an incredible £173m per year.
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- Saudi Pro League
- Saudi Arabia
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Neymar
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