“The transfers of the summer of 2026 will be the most spectacular” + the most sonorous names that are expected in the Gulf
Article by Dragoș Petrescu – Published Friday, January 23, 2026, 12:20 / Updated Friday, January 23, 2026 12:25
Club bosses in Saudi Arabia have big plans for the summer transfer window, with their aim to bring no less than 50 top players from European football to the Saudi Pro League once the World Cups in the US, Canada and Mexico have finished.
The complete schedule of stage #17 of the Saudi Pro League
In recent years, the financial power of the Saudis has wreaked havoc in the world of sports and entertainment, but the colossal sums invested so far only seem to have ushered in a new era.
50 top footballers expected to arrive in the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2026 » Salah, Vinicius and Bruno Fernandes among the biggest names!
According to information appearing in the international press, clubs in Saudi Arabia are planning “the most spectacular transfer window in football history“.
Renowned publications such as MARK, AS, ESPN or The Telegraph have announced that Saudi Pro League teams are targeting the transfers of no less than 50 top players from European football, who are set to arrive in the Middle East in the summer of 2026, following the conclusion of the World Cup.
What's more, there have already been some speculations about the most important players who are “hunted” by the billionaire patrons in the Gulf, and if these moves materialize, we will witness a real revolution in the world of football.
Among the main superstars who have been reported to be at the top of the Saudis' list are Mohamed Salah, Vinicius, Bruno Fernandes, Robert Lewandowski and Casemiro, and if we were to analyze the current situations of each of them, a possible transfer does not sound like a sci-fi scenario at all.
In the case of Casemiro, things are simple, the Brazilian has already announced that at the end of the current season he will leave Manchester United. So, if he is offered an attractive sum, there is a high probability that he will accept a move to the Middle East.
Casemiro's message for Manchester United supporters // PHOTO: TNT Sports
Also, as for Lewandowski, Salah and Bruno, the Saudis will try as much as possible to lure them with exorbitant fees, hoping to take advantage of the delicate situations they are going through at the moment at their current teams.
Contrary to expectations, the most difficult to convince seems to be Vinicius, who with the dismissal of Xabi Alonso and the installation of Alvaro Arbeloa on the technical bench of Real Madrid, enjoys again the confidence he knew under the command of Carlo Ancelotti. The living proof of the improvement of the player's form is represented by the last match played by “los blancos” in the Champions League (6-1 with AS Monaco), in which Vini really shone.
Even so, the Saudis will keep up the pressure, hoping to reach an agreement with both the player and Real Madrid.
In addition to the aforementioned players, other big names in European football have been targeted for a potential transfer to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2026. They include Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, Juventus' Kenan Yildiz, AC Milan's Rafael Leao, AS Roma's Paulo Dybala and even Chivu's Inter captain Lautaro Martinez.
Saudi Pro League Standings:
