The public recruitment announcement appeared on Futboljobs, a Spanish website, seeking an experienced player. The ad, which listed the Saudi Pro League as the recruiting entity with its official logo, detailed specific candidate requirements and offered compensation approaching 1,2 million USD per month. A successful applicant would gain the chance to play against superstars such as Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.
The announcement specified that the defensive midfielder must have played in national leagues of equivalent or higher level. Candidates need to submit a curriculum vitae, highlight compilation videos, or a link to their profile on the Transfermarkt transfer statistics website. Additionally, the Saudi Pro League requires the player to be a free agent, or have an agent with 100% representation rights instead of a complex co-ownership arrangement.
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Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles during the Riyadh Season Cup final against Al Hilal at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 8/2/2024. *Photo: AP*
The salary for this role is between 700.000 USD and 1,17 million USD per month. This method of recruitment is considered unusual and "unprecedented" in elite football. Typically, clubs identify players through agent networks, resorting to platforms like Futboljobs only as a last resort.
The Saudi Pro League's reputation has risen significantly in recent seasons, driven by a strategy of heavy spending to attract prominent players. From 2023 to 2025 alone, the league invested a total of 1,75 billion USD in foreign stars to boost its appeal.
The ambitious "Vision 2030" project for Saudi football is backed by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with estimated assets of approximately 940 billion USD.
PIF currently owns the league's four largest clubs: Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli, each maintaining an annual budget of 2 billion USD. While Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup, analysts question the long-term sustainability of the national league's appeal.
Ronaldo's contract remains the Saudi Pro League's most iconic. Last year, he extended his deal with Al-Nassr for two additional years. West Asian media reports it as the most lucrative deal in sports history, with a basic salary reaching 660 million USD for the full contract term. The Portuguese superstar also received a 33 million USD signing bonus, which would rise to 51 million USD upon activating the contract's second year.
Although media attention often fixates on superstars like Ronaldo, this unusual recruitment ad highlights that lucrative opportunities in the Gulf region are available even to players beyond the global elite.
The specific Saudi Pro League club behind the announcement remains undisclosed. However, should a defensive midfielder unexpectedly transfer to the league this January, it is highly probable they secured their position through an online application.
Compiled by Ha Phuong
