Football frenzy has taken over the Kingdom as the Saudi Pro League becomes the new playground for the world's top footballers. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N'Golo Kante have left their mark on the league, but they're by no means the only ones. The league has attracted a wealth of talent from all over the world, cementing its position as a premier destination for footballers looking to make a mark on the global stage.

The government's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has taken over four of the largest clubs in the country, including Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli, giving them the firepower to attract the best talent from around the world. Meanwhile, other clubs have also been making huge moves in the transfer market, turning heads and raising eyebrows.

The summer of 2023 has been one for the history books, making headlines across the globe. But this is just the beginning; with the PIF's long-term vision for the league, we can expect even more excitement and drama in the years to come.

To guide you through the pitches this season, here is a list of the international players decorating the star-studded football sky over Saudi Arabia.

Cristiano Ronaldo | Al-Nassr

The legendary five-time Ballon d'Or-winning Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, has made his way to Saudi Arabia after a controversial exit from Manchester United. His departure has opened the door for a wave of high-profile players to join the Roshn Saudi League, solidifying the league's position as a premier destination for top-tier footballers.

Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema, the former Real Madrid striker and current Ballon d'Or holder with five UEFA Champions League titles to his name, has quickly made an impact since signing with Al-Ittihad Cup in June. In his debut on July 27th, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2-1 victory over Espérance de Tunis during the Arab Club Champions Cup.

N’Golo Kante | Al-Ittihad

After the departure of fellow France international Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante - a FIFA World Cup winner with the French national team in 2018 - left his club, Chelsea, and headed to the Gulf. Kante, widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, has been a key player for Chelsea in their recent successes, including their UEFA Champions League victory in 2021.

Riyad Mahrez | Al-Ahli

Algerian winger Riyad Karim Mahrez bid farewell to Manchester City this July after a successful half-decade with the club, during which he won trophies every season. Mahrez has now joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli, becoming an addition to the growing roster of world-class players in the Saudi Pro League.

Sadio Mané | Al-Nassr

Sadio Mané, named African Player of the Year twice, has signed with the Saudi league team Al Nassr. Mane, who previously played for Liverpool and Bayern Munich, will now join forces with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

Roberto Firmino | Al-Ahli

The highest-scoring Brazilian in Premier League history, Roberto Firmino bid an emotional farewell to Liverpool supporters after spending eight years at Anfield. He has now left Liverpool to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, marking the end of an era for the Reds.

Jordan Henderson | Al-Ettifaq

The English professional footballer and former Liverpool captain Jordan Brian Henderson joined the Saudi Professional League club Al-Ettifaq on July 25th, making a high-profile move after spending 12 years with the Reds. The midfielder's decision to leave Anfield was driven by the opportunity to reunite with former teammate Steven Gerrard, who now manages the Saudi club.

Fabinho | Al-Ittihad

After five years of incredible achievements playing for Liverpool, Fábio Henrique Tavares, better known as Fabinho, has joined Al Ittihad on a three-year deal. The Brazilian midfielder made 219 appearances for Liverpool since his arrival in 2018 and helped the team to numerous titles including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

Kalidou Koulibaly | Al Hilal

Al-Hilal announced their acquisition of Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly - who won the 2020 Italian Cup with Napoli - from Chelsea. Just two days after the announcement, Koulibaly spoke publicly about his move away from European football, indicating that money was the primary factor in his decision to join Al-Hilal.

Edouard Mendy | Al-Ahli

After arriving at Chelsea in 2020, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy lost his position as the club's first-choice goalkeeper; despite making a strong start to his Chelsea career, he made only 10 Premier League appearances last season. Seeking a fresh start, Mendy moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli.

Marcelo Brozovic | Al-Nassr

After captaining Inter Milan in their Champions League final loss to Manchester City, Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has decided to leave the Serie A side after eight seasons and five major trophies in Italy to join Al-Nassr.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | Al-Hilal

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was once considered a midfielder destined for the highest level of European football, but now he's set to make his mark in the Saudi Pro League through his transfer to Al-Hilal.

Allan Saint-Maximin | Al-Ahli

In a surprise move, Newcastle United's dynamic French winger Allan Saint-Maximin has left French club Nice to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

Ruben Neves | Al-Hilal

The captain of Portugal's Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ruben Neves, holder of the inaugural UEFA Nations League trophy with the Portuguese national team in 2019, has made a significant move to Saudi Arabia after joining Al-Hilal.

Jota | Al-Ittihad

After an impressive season with Celtic, rising Portuguese winger João Pedro Neves Filipe known as Jota has decided to leave the Scottish club and join Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. With 15 goals to his name, Jota played a key role in helping Celtic secure a domestic treble, catching the eye of money-men in Saudi Arabia who were eager to secure his services.

Steven Gerrard | Al-Ettifaq

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who has been out of work since leaving Aston Villa last year, initially denied rumors that he would be taking a job in Saudi Arabia. However, he has since taken the deal to manage Al-Ettifaq and is now considered the fourth highest-paid manager in the world.

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