[REVISION HISTORY]

Saudi Pro League attracts European and African talent

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-22 21:15 UTC → 2026-08-24 02:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye left Everton after a seven-year spell and 236 appearances. Following the expiration of his contract, the 36-year-old signed a one-year deal with newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Al-Diriyah, which includes an option for a second season. Al-Diriyah, aiming to build a Senegal-heavy roster, intends to use Gueye’s extensive experience—including 135 caps for Senegal and stints at clubs such as LOSC Lille and Paris Saint-Germain—to stabilize its midfield during its debut top-flight season. Two days later, the recruitment drive was highlighted again when Paris FC forward Alimami Gory was reported to be finalizing a transfer to the Saudi Pro League. These moves underscore the league's ongoing strategy to attract established European talent and senior players from the Premier League and Ligue 2 to raise its competitive profile. By late August 2026, Al-Diriyah continued its roster building by securing Algerian international Adel Boulbina. The 23-year-old is joining the club from Al-Duhail following previous stints with Paradou AC and in Qatar. Meanwhile, negotiations have also transfer activity intensified for several clubs. Negotiations progressed significantly regarding the potential transfer of Parfait Guiagon to Al-Tawoon; reports indicated the ~~top-flight~~ player had not reported to training for approximately 15 days as the Buraydah-based club ~~Al-Tawoon.~~ worked to reach an agreement with his current team. Al-Diriyah also finalized several key additions to its roster. The club confirmed the signing of Algerian international Adel Boulbina from Qatar’s Al-Duhail, noting his goal-scoring ability in the AFC Champions League Elite. Furthermore, Al-Diriyah secured two loan deals to bolster its squad: French midfielder Enzo Millot joined on a one-season loan from Al-Ahli, and Uruguayan forward Darwin Nuñez arrived on loan from Al-Hilal.

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