Recently, the football world has been abuzz with the Saudi Pro League's relentless efforts to sign star players. Notably, it's widely known that Al Ittihad once made a record-breaking offer exceeding 200 billion won to Asian star Son Heung-min. However, Son turned down this substantial offer due to his strong loyalty to Tottenham and his desire to win. European media were astonished that Son rejected a deal worth 2.5 times his Tottenham salary.
Yet, reports have surfaced that the Saudi Pro League has not stopped there and is now eyeing another global star and Ballon d'Or winner. In focus is Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Ousmane Dembélé. Sky Sports reports that the Saudi Pro League has entered into ambitious moves to sign Dembélé in the summer of 2026.
From a tactical standpoint, this move by the Saudi Pro League is seen not just as collecting star players, but illustrating a long-term vision for the league. Dembélé, recognized as one of the world's best after winning the Ballon d'Or in 2025, was pivotal in PSG's treble-winning 2024-25 season with 53 matches, 35 goals, and 14 assists across Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League. He has overcome past criticisms during his Barcelona days regarding injuries and inconsistency, and has significantly improved his scoring abilities, off-the-ball movement, and decisiveness, evolving into a complete winger.
The strategy of the Saudi Pro League started with acquiring global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Sadio Mané from 2023, elevating the league's status. Now shifting focus from the initial investment cycle, there is an emphasis on recruiting next-generation top-class talents. This includes investing in young, core assets post-World Cup by utilizing central funds up to 2 billion euros (approximately 3.45 trillion won) per season to cover transfer fees, salaries, and agent commissions. This meticulous long-term plan is aimed at sustaining growth and strengthening competitiveness.
Dembélé's camp, though, has ruled out an immediate transfer, focusing on league victories and Champions League prestige with PSG. However, the astronomical salary that the Saudi Pro League could offer is an alluring temptation. PSG is also set to engage in renegotiation talks with Dembélé, taking into account the club's wage structure.
This transfer speculation presents an intriguing glimpse into the ambitious future strategy of the Saudi Pro League, which is expanding the bold investments shown in the past with Son Heung-min to a Ballon d'Or winner like Dembélé, aiming to elevate the league's caliber and global recognition. The Saudi Pro League's moves, which are shaking up the European football market, prompt great anticipation to see how far they'll go and which stars will join this momentum.
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