Michael Emenalo set to become Saudi Pro League’s first director of football
1 year, 5 months ago

Michael Emenalo set to become Saudi Pro League’s first director of football

New York Times  

The Saudi Pro League is set to appoint Michael Emenalo as its first director of football. Amid a massive drive to sign big-name players and managers, this move provides yet another indication of the competition’s ambition — plus a commitment not only to secure elite on-pitch talent but leading off-field personnel too. Emenalo occupied a similar role at Chelsea between 2011-2017, overseeing a hugely successful period across the men’s, women’s and academy sides at the west London club. The former Nigeria international left-back was also heavily involved in transfer activity, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and N’Golo Kante recruited during his Stamford Bridge tenure.

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History of this topic

Director of football Michael Emenalo reveals Saudi Pro League are 'not shying away' from more big signings in January... and leaves door 'open' for Kylian Mbappe
1 year ago

Director of football Michael Emenalo reveals Saudi Pro League are 'not shying away' from more big signings in January... and leaves door 'open' for Kylian Mbappe

Daily Mail  

Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo has revealed the Saudi Pro League are 'not shying away' from more January transfer signings. And now Emenalo has revealed more signings should be expected in the January window as the league continues to flirt with Superstar Kylian Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe has been a source of interest for the Saudi Pro League …

Only Premier League clubs spent more on transfers than Saudi Pro League sides
1 year, 3 months ago

Only Premier League clubs spent more on transfers than Saudi Pro League sides

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “This marks the first time since 2016 that another international league has …

Mo Salah and Paul Pogba would be marquee arrivals, while Hugo Lloris and Donny van de Beek could be offered new starts... Who can still move to Saudi Arabia before their transfer window slams shut?
1 year, 3 months ago

Mo Salah and Paul Pogba would be marquee arrivals, while Hugo Lloris and Donny van de Beek could be offered new starts... Who can still move to Saudi Arabia before their transfer window slams shut?

Daily Mail  

The Saudi Arabian transfer window slamming shut would have barely been noticed 12 months ago, but the passing of this summer's deadline on Thursday will be a relief or a missed opportunity for European sides. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah continues to be linked with a £200m move to Saudi Arabia Jurgen Klopp will be among the managers most eager for …

Saudi Pro League's transfer chief Michael Emenalo wants 'ALL the top players' like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane as he warns of more big spending this summer
1 year, 4 months ago

Saudi Pro League's transfer chief Michael Emenalo wants 'ALL the top players' like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane as he warns of more big spending this summer

Daily Mail  

Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez are among those who have moved across The Saudi Pro League's transfer chief says he wants 'all the top players' - and has warned that more incredible spending is planned in the current window. Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League's transfer chief, says he wants 'all the top players' Emenalo said he would 'love' to …

Saudi Pro league set to kick off new dawn for football
1 year, 4 months ago

Saudi Pro league set to kick off new dawn for football

The Hindu  

When the new Saudi Pro League season kicks off on Friday, it will herald a new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom which has spent close to half a billion dollars luring top players and coaches from traditional European powerhouses. Al-Ahli, in particular, is one of the few clubs that has benefited from the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s project …

Inside Saudi Arabia’s plan to disrupt global football
1 year, 5 months ago

Inside Saudi Arabia’s plan to disrupt global football

New York Times  

The sun has set on Cristiano Ronaldo’s first six months in Saudi Arabia and he appears optimistic about the future of football there. Saudi Sports Company, which is state-controlled, acquired the domestic rights to the SPL for three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25 and the deal’s value is 10 times the amount the league generates from international rights. Another way …

Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss
1 year, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss

The Hindu  

Missing out on Lionel Messi hasn’t slowed Saudi Arabia’s ambitious recruitment drive as the oil-rich kingdom tries to establish itself as a viable destination for the world’s top players. World Cup and Champions League winner N’Golo Kante became the latest stellar player to head to the lucrative Pro League, signing a three-year contract Wednesday to team up with Benzema at …

Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise more questions than answers
1 year, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise more questions than answers

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. High-placed sources say this week brings a lot of discussion between Saudi …

Saudi Arabia privatises football clubs, eyes big-name signings
1 year, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabia privatises football clubs, eyes big-name signings

Al Jazeera  

Saudi Arabia aims to increase the revenue of its football league and bring it up to ‘top 10 in the world’. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will take control of four of the kingdom’s top football clubs including Al Nassr, which Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, as the government revives a plan to privatise several state-owned sports clubs. The Public Investment …

No swag, but Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo puts swagger in Saudi football
1 year, 6 months ago

No swag, but Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo puts swagger in Saudi football

The Hindu  

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first season in Saudi Arabia ended with a whimper, but with hundreds of millions in wages and unprecedented attention on Saudi football, he may not be the last megastar to grace the oil-rich kingdom. Ronaldo scored 14 goals including five penalties but it was a “disappointing season” for the Riyadh club, said Moqbel Al-Zabni, editor-in-chief of the Saudi …

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