The Saudi Pro League has also recruited a Premier League champion, former Liverpool goalscorer Roberto Firmino joining Al Ahli on a free agent and will work with former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy next season. Backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, four Saudi powerhouses, Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, have been actively expanding this summer, with Etihad recently spending £25 million to buy Portuguese winger Jota from Celtic.
Ahli announced on social networking sites that 31-year-old Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino has joined the two sides until 2026. Roberto Firmino previously played for Liverpool for eight years, scoring 111 goals in 362 appearances. He left Anfield on a free transfer with Naby Keita, James Milner and Chamberlain at Liverpool this summer.
Roberto Firmino's annual salary at Ahly is reported to be 20 million euros.
The Public Investment Fund (PIP) this summer acquired the country's four powerhouses, Ahli, Etihad, Riyadh Victory and Hilal. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund also holds an 80 percent stake in Newcastle United in the Premier League.
With the support of "Big Scattering Money", the four major Saudi teams actively opened high salaries to grab talents in this transfer window, and invited many European League stars to join.
Ahly had already paid £16 million to buy goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Chelsea before signing Roberto Firmino, also signing for three years.
Last season's league champions Etihad announced earlier the purchase of 24-year-old Portuguese winger Jota from Celtic; Note: not Liverpool), reportedly a transfer fee of £25 million, signed for 3 years. The Jota scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists for Celtic last season. His parent side Benfica could get £7.5 million from the transfer.
Jota is Etihad's third major signing of the summer, having previously signed two free-agent French stars Benzema and N'Golo
Last season's runner-up Riyadh Victory, in addition to having Cristiano Ronaldo itself, acquired Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan for 18 million euros and signed a three-year contract.
Last season's runner-up Hilal also added troops from the Premier League, buying Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves and Chelsea centre-back Kalidu Koulibaly. Ruben Neves has a transfer fee of up to £47 million, while Calidu Koulibaly has a transfer fee of around £20 million.