Sell before you buy. One of the fundamental logics of the transfer market also comes in Saudi Arabia where in recent years champions have arrived at the end of their careers as well as players in full maturity and young promises of European football, all paid their weight in gold. But now things have changed. There Saudi Pro League (SPL) has in fact confirmed that all 18 clubs that make up the Saudi championship have currently reached the maximum quota of eight foreign players aged over 21 in the squad. This means clubs are forced to “terminate contracts, sell players or cancel squad members” to buy new players in the winter transfer window.
“The SPL will work closely with the clubs and the Committee for financial sustainability to ensure the compliance with policies and regulations of the league”, read a statement from the League, which then confirmed that 20 of the 36 places for foreign players under 21 are still free. The League then said it had held a series of “intensive workshops” with its clubs , in order to “assess their specific needs and objectives for the winter transfer window”.
“These workshops aim to provide a personalized support for clubs allowing them to continue to achieve success on and off the field,” read the statement. The director general of Al Hilal Esteve Calzada said at Leaders Week in London in October that his club had reached its limit on foreign signings, commenting on rumors that the club, among others, Neymar and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were interested in Mohamed Salah. The attacker, however, seems destined to renew his contract with Liverpool, which expires next summer, but the Arab club, second in the league, two points behind leaders Al Ittihad, could still look elsewhere if he were to leave Neymar at the center of many market rumors.