Key Summer Transfer Deals in Roshen League Ahead of New Season

Saudi Pro League clubs have been preparing for the 2026-2027 sports season with extensive activity in the summer transfer market, as all 18 teams have made significant changes with new signings and the departure of notable names.

Al Hilal has strengthened its squad with the addition of Dutch player Cresencio Summerville, who arrives from West Ham United for a fee of €45 million. In addition to Summerville, the club has also retained key players including Mohammed Al-Owais, Abdullah Al-Anzi, Mohammed Al-Sarnoukh, Sabri Dahl, Nawaf Al-Habashi, and Hamad Al-Sarnoukh.

Al Hilal has seen the departure of several key players, with Brazilian Marcos Leonardo heading to Ajax Amsterdam, while Mohammed Al Qahtani moves to Al Qadisiyah, and Abdul Karim Darsi is loaned to Abha. Additionally, Abdullah Radeef and Ahmed Abu Rasain have also left the club.

Al Ahly has strengthened its squad by signing Portuguese Francisco Trincão from Sporting Lisbon for around €40 million, alongside Armenian Edward Spertsyan, Gambian Sidi Kinteh, Mishal Al-Mutairi, and Naif Masoud.

Al Ahly's squad has seen the return of Saad Balabid and Firas Al-Ghamdi from loan. Meanwhile, Algerian Riyad Mahrez and Ivorian Franck Kessié have left the team during the current summer transfer window.

Al Nassr has opted for a limited number of signings, bringing in Portuguese player Samu Costa from Real Mallorca to replace the departed Marcelo Brozović, alongside the return of Majed Qashish after the end of his loan.

In contrast, Al Nassr has lost the services of Marcelo Brozović, while John Duran has moved to Benfica on loan, as the team gears up for the new season.

Ittihad has moved to strengthen its squad under the guidance of German coach Jens Wissing, signing Dion Lopy and Rakan Al-Kaabi from Al-Fayha, while also recalling Abdul Ilah Al-Hasawi from loan. Additionally, the club has activated the purchase of Stefan Keller from AEL Limassol.

Fabinho, Mario Mitaï, and Al-Nashari have departed from the Brazilian Federation as part of a team restructuring ahead of the Roshan League. Al-Nashari has transferred to Al-Shabab, marking a significant change in the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Al-Shabab has revamped its roster by signing Croatian player Tin Jedvaj from Panathinaikos, and has replaced Al-Nashri from Al-Ittihad, along with Ali Al-Asmari on loan from Neom, in addition to regaining Daniel Podence from Olympiacos.

Nawaf Al-Saadi has joined Al-Khaleej, while Faisal Al-Sobiani has moved to Abha on loan during the summer transfer period.

Al Qadsiah has maintained a significant level of stability, securing the signing of Mohammed Al Qahtani from Al Hilal, alongside defender Sofiane Krouani. Meanwhile, defender Qasim Lajami has left the team.

Neom has begun its journey in the Roshan League with multiple signings, most notably Frenchman Malang Sarr, Greek Giorgos Masouras, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Haroun Kamara, and Muhannad Abu Taha.

Neom has signed Khalid Al-Ramah and Khalil Al-Absi, while the club has seen the departure of Ahmed Hegazi, Salman Al-Faraj, Mustafa Malekah, Ahmed Abdo, Abdullah Doukouri, Aoun Al-Salouli, Ayman Flatah, and Ryan Messi.

Al Taawoun has transformed its squad under Serbian coach Zarko Lazetic, signing Abdul Razak Hamdallah, Mohammed Al-Saadi, Turki Al-Jaadi, Rakan Al-Talhi, Younes Al-Bahrawi, and Abdul Rahman Hindi.

In contrast, Andre Girotto, Rene Rivas, Angelo Fulgini, Roger Martinez, Abdulilah Hussawi, Mohamed Mahzari, Mohamed Al-Qahtani, and Christopher Zambrano have departed.

The list of departures also included Mohammed Al-Dosari, Mishaal Al-Alailey, and Abdul Quddus Atiyah, as part of a major overhaul the team is undergoing in preparation for the new sporting season.

Al-Ettifaq has opened a new era under the leadership of Australian Arthur Papas, bringing in Bersant Celina from the Swedish league and Ahmed Al-Ruhaili, while Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum and Francisco Calvo have departed.

Al-Ettifaq has bid farewell to Ahmed Hassan, Nawaf Hazazi, Bilal Al-Dawaa, and Majed Doran as the club looks to reshape its roster ahead of the official competitions.

Al-Fateh has strengthened its squad with seven new signings, led by Slovakian Lukas Hraslin from Sparta Prague on a contract until 2029, alongside Mihai Lexandru, Kennedy Boateng, and Ruben Kilder.

Al-Fateh has also signed Abdul Rahman Al-Khaibari, Walid Al-Anzi, and Abdul Ilah Al-Khaibari, while defender Mohammed Al-Sarnukh has moved to Al-Hilal, marking some of the club's key summer transfers.

Al Khaleej has entered the season with a new project under Portuguese coach José Gomes, bringing in Musa Barrow, Angelo Fulgini, Bubacar Kouyaté, Omar Mascarell, Miguel Crespo, and Wilson Diogo Monteiro.

Al Khaleej has signed Abdullah Al Ammar, Nawaf Al Saadi, and Mohammed Al Ibrahim, while Konstantinos Fortounis, Dimitrios Korbelis, Paulo Fernandes, Bart Schinkelveld, and Marwan Al Haidari have all left the club.

Riyadh: Al-Riyadh is taking steps to strengthen its chances in the Roshan League, with the standout signing being Egyptian international Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, following the termination of his contract with Al Ahly, alongside reinforcements from local and youth players.

Al-Riyadh has announced the departure of Khalil Al-Absi, who has permanently transferred to Neom, as the club works on rebuilding its squad ahead of the new season.

Al-Faihah has undergone extensive changes under the leadership of Brazilian coach Fabio Carille, signing Portuguese player Paulo Oliveira, Brazilian Lazaro Vinicius Marques, Abdullah Al-Qahtani, and Sultan Al-Jabri.

Sabri Dahil has left Al-Faihah to join Al-Hilal for €2.3 million, while Rakan Al-Kaabi has moved to Ittihad on a free transfer, alongside Chris Smalling, Yassine Benzia, and Mikel Villanueva.

Al Hazm has relied on a targeted transfer market, securing the signings of Afimico Bololo, Sofiane Bendebka, and Mohamed Amin Ben Hamida, along with five local players to bolster the depth of their squad.

In contrast, veteran striker Omar Al Somah and Fabio Martins have left the club, while Nawaf Al Habshi has transferred to Al Hilal, marking significant changes in the team's roster.

Al-Khulood has been working to strengthen its squad before the transfer window closes, reaching an agreement with French player Julien Dominguez, who joins from Dijon, alongside a series of local signings on loan.

Al-Khulood's roster has witnessed the departure of several players whose contracts have expired without renewal, aiming to create space in the squad and adjust salaries as they reorganize for the new season.

Abha has returned to the Roshen League as the champions of the Yelo League, having made significant signings including Frenchman Nabil Fekir, Senegalese Abdou Diallo, French Donovan Leon, Laurentz Rozier, and Abdul Karim Darsi.

Abha has signed Faisal Al-Sabiani, Majed Doran, Safwan Al-Jahni, Mohammed Al-Dosari, and Ali Mami Jouri, while also securing Nasser Al-Dajani on a permanent deal following the end of his loan.

Abha FC has bid farewell to Abdullah Al-Jadani, Suliman Bilo, Moataz Akja, Mohammed Al-Oufi, Fahd Al-Jizani, Suwailem Al-Minhali, Manaf Abu Yabis, and Walid Asiri.

The list of departures also includes Hamoud Al-Shammari, Hassan Al-Salees, Alfonso Tyra, Luiz Morala, Jay Dembly, and Dawood Al-Taraf, as part of a comprehensive team restructuring.

Al-Faisaly has returned to the top flight under the guidance of Italian coach Giovanni Solinas, having signed Alexander Mendy, Christian Bassogog, Andre Gerouto, Fernando Pacheco, and Abdullah Syke.

Al-Faisaly has completed its signings by acquiring Andrei Giordy, Théo Bougenda, Ahmed Abdo, Abdullah bin Sbeit, and Jimmy Sioni, in an effort to build a competitive roster.

Turki Al-Jaadi has left for Al-Taawoun, while the club has released a number of local players who participated with him in the Yelo League and no longer have a place in the new roster.

Diriyah has made its debut in the Roshn League under the guidance of Portuguese coach Bruno Lage, and has completed notable signings, led by Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Albanian player Berat Gjimshiti, and Hattan Bahbri.

Diriyah has also signed Qassem Lajami, Saeed Al-Rubaie, Amin Bukhari, Serbian Nikola Vasilic, and Abdullah Al-Zaid on loan from Al-Hilal to form a new squad for the historic season.

With the picture now complete, the summer transfer market has given the Saudi Pro League a different look, as the 18 clubs have engaged in global signings, local reinforcements, loans, and the departure of notable names.

The transfer market map indicates that Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Shabab have strengthened their squads with varying ambitions, while Al Qadsiah, Neom, Al Taawoun, Al Ittifaq, and Al Fateh are working to solidify their positions.

Gulf, Riyadh, Al-Faiha, Al-Hazm, and Al-Khaloud have chosen a mix of experience and renewal, while the promoted clubs Abha, Al-Faisaly, and Al-Dar'iya have adopted a complete rebuild strategy ahead of their debut in the Roshan League.

Amid star signings, the departure of key players, and the return of promoted clubs, the matches of the Rochen League 2026-2027 are set to unveil the reality of every project, as the pitch becomes the ultimate judge.