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After Landing Cristiano Ronaldo & Neymar, Saudi Arabia Prepares Massive Raid on Women’s Soccer As They Eye Top Female Superstars: Reports

Published 10/09/2023, 10:40 AM EDT

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In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been making waves in the soccer transfer market. It all began with the groundbreaking signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, which opened the floodgates for more European top stars to join the Saudi Pro League. The likes of Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante, among many others, have since joined Saudi teams. Now, it seems that Saudi Arabia has set its sights on a new goal: top female superstars.

Saudi Arabia has proven that it is willing to go to great lengths and spend hundreds of millions of dollars to bring in these top stars. Take, for instance, the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr for a staggering $500 million. Money certainly does not seem to be an issue for Saudi Arabia, as they now turn their attention to the women’s side of the game.

Saudi Arabia looking to sign top international women’s players

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The Saudi Women’s Pro League is relatively new and was just established in the 2022/23 season. Now, according to reports from Renascenca, Saudi Arabia is looking to expand the league by signing top soccer talents from around the world. Several agents have already approached female players through intermediaries, sparking rumors of a massive raid on women’s soccer.

These agents have been actively seeking international players aged between 24 to 28 years old. Additionally, it has been affirmed that money is not an issue, further fueling speculation about the potential signings.

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Teammate Football Management agency’s founder, Raquel Sampaio also revealed that she has received inquiries regarding “Portuguese players who might be interested in going there”. With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar dominating the men’s scene, it comes as no surprise that Saudi Arabia would seek to bring in top women’s stars as well.

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Players such as Alex Morgan and Alexia Putellas could be among those targeted by Saudi Arabia’s ambitious recruitment drive. The prospect of seeing these world-class athletes grace the pitches of Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly an enticing one. Also, following the success of the European exodus in men’s soccer, it is evident why the Middle Eastern nation is now turning its attention to women’s stars as well.

“He Looks Like 20-Year-Old” – Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s Dedication in Saudi Arabia in a Dual Role Detailed by Jordan Henderson’s Teammate

Saudi Pro League receives a $100 million boost after signing Cristiano Ronaldo

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Since the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League has experienced a significant increase in its popularity. Unlike previous seasons, the SPL is now being broadcast in numerous countries for the 2023-24 season. In order to enhance coverage, the Saudi league has sold its broadcast rights to 12 networks, resulting in expanded coverage across 130 countries. The influx of players in the summer, including notable names such as Neymar, also led to a remarkable surge of 650% in SPL’s international media rights.

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As a result, it is projected that the Saudi Pro League will generate approximately $100 million per year. This revenue will come from global media rights during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. These impressive numbers highlight why Saudi Arabia is dedicated to expanding soccer within their nation.

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Written by:

Saransh Chauhan

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Saransh Chauhan is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With a particular admiration for Lionel Messi, Saransh is committed to exploring every facet of the world's most popular sport in his work. At EssentiallySports, Saransh is known for his versatility as a writer, covering a wide range of topics with an open-minded curiosity that allows him to excel in all areas of the industry.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra