As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues his efforts to bolster the country’s global image through sports, particularly football, a new wave of criticism has emerged regarding the staggering amount of money spent during the recent summer transfer window. With the nation facing economic challenges, including rising poverty and increasing costs of living, the lavish expenditures on football clubs have left many questioning the Crown Prince’s priorities.
The summer transfer window for Saudi football saw a significant, albeit reduced, investment compared to last year, with 482 million euros spent on new players, a sharp decline from the previous year’s 978 million euros. Much of this spending was concentrated in clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), including heavyweights like Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal.
Al-Ittihad topped the list of big spenders, investing 124 million euros in players like Frenchman Moussa Diaby (60 million euros) and Dutchman Steven Bergwijn (21 million euros). Al-Nassr followed closely, spending 108.5 million euros, while Al-Hilal’s budget reached 94 million euros. Even newly promoted Al-Qadisiyah, owned by Aramco, splashed out 80 million euros. The bulk of the spending came from just seven clubs, while the remaining 11 clubs in the Saudi Pro League collectively spent only 7.5 million euros.
This aggressive push for international football recognition has been part of Mohammed bin Salman’s strategy to “sportswash” Saudi Arabia’s image, improving its standing on the global stage and redirecting attention from the country’s domestic challenges, including human rights issues. However, despite these efforts, the domestic response has been less than enthusiastic.
In the first two rounds of the 2024 season, stadium attendance was alarmingly low. In one case, a match that was moved to a 25,000-capacity stadium drew fewer than 2,300 spectators. This raises concerns that the vast sums being invested in sports are not engaging the local population, despite the Crown Prince’s efforts to import high-profile players and boost the league’s profile internationally.
Critics argue that Mohammed bin Salman’s spending, whether on sports or other projects, has done little to improve the lives of everyday Saudis. Poverty rates continue to rise, and many citizens struggle with high living costs while watching billions being funneled into luxury stadiums, foreign players, and high-profile sporting events. The lack of return on these investments has left many questioning whether this spending benefits the country as a whole or merely serves to enhance the Crown Prince’s personal and political ambitions.
Additionally, reports have surfaced about Bin Salman’s plans to spend hundreds of millions more in the coming years, including his bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Analysts warn that these efforts, while boosting Saudi Arabia’s visibility, may fail to address the more pressing issues facing the kingdom, such as unemployment, inequality, and the overall economic well-being of its citizens.
Ultimately, while the 482 million euros spent on summer transfers in 2024 have brought some of the world’s most talented footballers to Saudi Arabia, the question remains whether these lavish investments will ever truly benefit the kingdom’s people. For now, it seems that the Crown Prince’s dreams of global football dominance may be overshadowing the needs of the Saudi population.482 Million Euros Spent on Saudi Summer Transfers Amidst Growing Criticism of Bin Salman’s Spending
