The Saudi Pro League (SPL), also known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football league in Saudi Arabia, recognized as the premier football competition in Asia. Established in 1976, it features 18 clubs competing in a round-robin format from August to May, with the champion earning a title and qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite, while the bottom three teams face relegation. The league has a rich history, evolving from regional tournaments and the King’s Cup to a fully professional system since 2007, with Al-Hilal holding a record 19 titles.
Since 2023, the SPL has gained global attention due to significant investments from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which acquired 75% stakes in top clubs Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative. This financial backing has attracted world-class stars, starting with **Cristiano Ronaldo**, whose 2023 move to Al-Nassr sparked a “revolution” in Asian football. Other prominent players include **Neymar** (Al-Hilal), **Karim Benzema** (Al-Ittihad), **Sadio Mané** (Al-Nassr), **Riyad Mahrez** (Al-Ahli), **N’Golo Kanté** (Al-Ittihad), **Rúben Neves** (Al-Hilal), and **Allan Saint-Maximin** (Al-Ahli), significantly boosting the league’s profile.
The 2024-25 season saw Al-Ittihad as the reigning champions, with Al-Hilal dominating historically. Recent highlights include Al-Hilal’s unbeaten 2023-24 season and Ronaldo’s record-breaking 35 goals, earning him the Golden Boot. The league recorded 909 goals in 2023-24, a 40% increase from the previous season, reflecting its growing competitiveness. However, challenges remain, such as concerns over the league’s two-tier structure due to uneven investment and the reliance on veteran stars, with some like Benzema facing speculation about potential exits.
With passionate fan support, vibrant tifos, and increasing global broadcasts, the SPL aims to be among the world’s top leagues by 2030, leveraging its star power and infrastructure development ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
أفادت تقارير أن تشيلسي منفتح على التخلي عن نيكولاس جاكسون هذا الصيف، حيث يسعى المهاجم جاهدًا للخروج. ويُشير استحواذ النادي على ليام ديلاب وجواو بيدرو إلى نية واضحة لتعزيز خياراته الهجومية. وقد أثار اللاعبان الجديدان الإعجاب بالفعل، حيث أظهرا أداءً واعدًا للغاية في مستهل مشوارهما، لا سيما خلال حملة الفوز بكأس العالم للأندية تحت قيادة إنزو ماريسكا.
يواجه مانشستر يونايتد معضلةً مألوفةً مع جادون سانشو. فرغم اهتمام بشكتاش، يبقى إيجاد مشترٍ دائمٍ للجناح المنبوذ تحديًا. وقد يضطر يونايتد إلى إعارته مجددًا، إذ لا يزال الانتقال الدائم بعيد المنال، حتى مع وجود خيار تمديد العقد.
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