Janice R. Andrews
Over the past year, the Saudi Pro League has made news for the huge amounts of money it has spent to sign big names like Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, and Riyad Mahrez. The league wants to get better. Big names like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Joao Cancelo, and Moussa Diaby have been in the news this summer, but there are also a number of less well-known players who have joined the Saudi Pro League that you may not have heard of. Here are seven interesting new players that came in during the summer transfer window of 2024 that you may have missed.
Marek Rodak
Marek Rodak, a goalie from Slovenia, has made a big move to the Saudi Pro League to play for Steven Gerrard’s team, Al-Ettifaq. Rodak is not as well-known as some of his peers, but he brings important knowledge to his new team. He used to play for Fulham in the Premier League. His move from the English Premier League to the Saudi League shows how more and more players are looking for new challenges and chances in the Middle East.
Houssem Aouar
Houssem Aouar was once a highly sought-after talent, but his career has taken him from the heights of trade rumors to a more quiet role at Roma. Aouar has now joined Al-Ittihad after playing on the edges for a season under Daniele De Rossi. He will play with well-known players like N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema. This move gives Aouar a new start, and he might be able to get his career going again in a competitive league.
William Troost-Ekong
African defender William Troost-Ekong has moved to Al-Kholood, a team that just got promoted from the second level of football in Saudi Arabia. Some of the most impressive things that Troost-Ekong has done in his career are being named the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament and winning a Greek Super Lig title with PAOK. His knowledge and ability to lead will be very important for Al-Kholood as they try to get to the top level.
Jean Michael Seri
People once thought that Jean Michael Seri would be the next big thing for Barcelona. Since then, his career has taken a lot of different paths. The Ivorian player has played for Fulham, Galatasaray, Bordeaux, and Hull City. He has now joined Al-Orobah, who were just promoted. His move is part of Al-Orobah’s larger plan to bring in players, which also includes signing Cristian Tello and maybe even Sergio Ramos. Seri’s arrival will help the club’s middle as they start their first season in the Saudi Pro League.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson
Johann Berg Gudmundsson, an Icelandic player, has left Burnley. He was a key player in their goal to get back to the Premier League. Gudmundsson has now paid €1 million to join Al-Orobah. His knowledge and skill as a quality wing player will help his new team, which is putting together a competitive roster on a fairly small budget.
Ezequiel Fernandez
The Saudi Pro League is also trying to sign up young players from South America. A good defender from Boca Juniors named Ezequiel Fernandez, who is 22 years old, has signed with Al-Qadsiah. Fernandez was seen as having a bright future in Argentine football, and teams in Europe were interested in signing him. Along with other big names like Nacho and Aubameyang, his move at Al-Qadsiah shows that the club really wants to make a mark this season.
Giacomo Bonaventura
Giacomo Bonaventura’s move to Al-Shabab at age 35 is a classic way to cash in on your career. The Italian defender has had a great career with Atalanta, AC Milan, and Fiorentina. He will now play for a team coached by Vitor Pereira from Portugal. When Bonaventura comes to the Saudi Pro League from Serie A, his knowledge and ability to lead will be very helpful.
The Saudi Pro League keeps surprising and impressing people with the wide range of players it signs. Even though the big names get all the attention, these seven players—Marek Rodak, Houssem Aouar, William Troost-Ekong, Jean Michael Seri, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Ezequiel Fernandez, and Giacomo Bonaventura—are very important to the league’s growth. Their moves show that the league is becoming more popular and can bring in football players from all over the world. We will be very interested to see how these players affect their new teams and the Saudi Pro League as a whole as it grows.
