Al-Ahli Transfer News, Analysis and Overview – 2024
One of the Asian clubs that has inspired millions with their years-long spectacles because of the meteoric rise of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) is Al-Ahli. The football club from Jeddah is an integral part of the Saudi top-tier football and has produced some sensational moments in football in the last season of SPL despite a surprise relegation in the 2021/22 season. Now, the renowned Al-Malaki are back in business following a third-place finish in the 2023/24 season. The main reason behind their extraordinary transformation of performance is their unlimited cash flow which helped them sign top popular players in the transfer market.
They are one of the big clubs in the Saudi Pro League who have splashed the same level of cash like some other football outfits of the country in the previous year’s market and are expected to break the bank yet again in the 2024/25 transfer window following a busy summer transfer business.
The Al-Malaki have won the Saudi Pro League three times and have been runners-up on nine occasions in their entire history. Founded in 1937, they have maintained consistency in bringing in world-class players from different leagues and teams to King Abdullah Sports City. Sitting at an estimated net worth of £136 million, the Saudi Pro League outfit has the financial stability to go after any big player in the upcoming 2024/25 winter transfer window.
Al-Ahli Transfers Club Performance History
Al-Ahli put on a show in the transfer market just as other big Saudi clubs like Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad did in the 2023/24 transfer market by making multiple record-breaking signings. Before their relegation to the second division of the Saudi Pro League in 2021/22, the club from Jeddah were reluctant in luring in talents from the high-profile European leagues.
But the trend shifted when the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia decided to back the big clubs of the country for the development of the game. In the 2023/24 transfer window, Al-Ahli spent a whopping sum of £141 million in new transfers.
The Saudi club have a successful transfer history which has witnessed many players etching their names in the glorious book of the club. For instance, Omar Al-Somah was signed in the 2014/15 transfer season for just £1.4 million from Al Qadsia. The Syrian striker went on to become the record goal-scorer for the Al-Malaki with 194 goals under his belt. Recently, Al-Ahli have signed the former English Premier League champion, Riyad Mahrez who has been making waves in the Saudi Pro League. The former Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle was appointed as the manager of Al-Ahli, and the German coach has been making transfer decisions for his team ever since.
Al-Ahli Transfer Strategy and Philosophy
Before the involvement of Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Al-Ahli were not very much active in the transfer market. Most of their transfers before 2020 were valued under £10 million, given the restricted policy of spending. However, after 2022, the Saudi Pro League club have been splashing cash without hesitation to bring talented European footballers to King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, attracting hundreds more to join the path. The transfer strategy of Al-Ahli is simple – Offer big money contracts to top players of popular leagues like Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga, and build a strong squad with global pedigree.
With the changing landscape of Saudi Arabian football, Al-Ahli have also changed its philosophy of buying home-grown talents only. As the country is global and ready to challenge big European teams, the Al-Malaki are also making major moves to buy top talents from across the world.
Al-Ahli Transfer 2024 Challenges & Criticisms
The most significant transfer challenge that Al-Ahli have faced in the 2024/25 transfer market is to attract renowned players from the biggest European leagues. Despite the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Neymar and Riyad Mahrez arriving at the Saudi Pro League, the country is still far from establishing it as a home of football. Many European and South American youngsters still prefer English, Spanish or German football over Saudi Pro League due to a lot of exposure and media coverage in Europe.
Recently, Al-Ahli made a staggering £1 billion offer to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to acquire his services in the 2024 transfer market, but the Spanish giants have made it clear that the player is not for sale at any price. It will take years for a club like Al-Ahli to earn the trust of the world-class young players to buy them in the transfer market as their lucrative contracts fail sometimes.
Most Expensive Al-Ahli Transfers
Ivan Toney tops the list of the most expensive transfers of Al-Ahli as the English forward has joined the Saudi Pro League team in the 2024 summer transfer window on a £32.8 million deal. The Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez joined them in the 2023/24 transfer market after Manchester City made an £26.9 agreement with Al-Malaki.
| Player | Transfer fee | Club (from) | Season |
| Ivan Toney | £32.8 million | Brentford | 2024/25 |
| Riyad Mahrez | £26.9 million | Manchester City | 2023/24 |
| Gabri Veiga | £23.1 million | Celta Vigo | 2023/24 |
| Roger Ibanez | £23.1 million | AS Roma | 2023/24 |
| Allan Saint-Maximin | £20.93 million | Newcastle United | 2023/24 |
Al-Ahli Transfers New Signings 2024/25
Al-Ahli have been very busy in the 2024/25 transfer market as they have overseen a lot of transfer battles in signing new players. In the summer window, the Saudi club made two new signings – Ivan Toney and Alexander. Both players have cost them approximately £39.8 million. Toney was signed by Al-Ahli after a series of disagreements with Brentford FC, who were reluctant to sell their top striker.
| Player | Transfer fee | Club (from) |
| Ivan Toney | £32.8 million | Brentford FC |
| Alexander | £6.9 million | Fluminense |
Al-Ahli Transfers All Outgoing 2024/2025
Al-Ahli are one of the few major clubs who have offloaded plenty of top players in the 2014/25 transfer market. The most notable one amongst the player’s departures is Allan Saint-Maximin, who has joined Fenerbahce on a loan deal worth £6.4 million. Another notable departure from Al-Ahli this season is of Haitham Asiri, who has signed with Al-Qadsiah.
| Player | Transfer fee | Club (to) |
| Allan Saint-Maximin | £6.4 million | Fenerbahce |
| Haitham Asiri | £2.14 million | Al-Qadsiah |
| Abdulbasit Hindi | £1.3 million | Al-Ettifaq |
| Ibrahim Al-Zubaidi | Free transfer | Al-Orobah |
Top Signings for Al-Ahli in 2024-25
Al-Ahli have made two signings in the 2024/25 summer transfer window. Between the two new arrivals, Ivan Toney has been able to adapt to the environment of Saudi Arabian football quickly. The former Brentford man has already amassed three goals and as many assists in just 10 Saudi Pro League appearances this season.
Worst Signings for Al-Ahli in 2024-25
As the Saudi Pro League club has just made two signings in the 2024 summer transfer market, it is impossible to find out the worst signing of the season yet. However, Fluminense’s Alexander is yet to press the accelerator button at Al-Ahli.
Al-Ahli Transfer Spend Till Now
The Asian club has been on a spending spree ever since they returned to the Saudi Pro League from relegation. Since 2023, Al-Ahli have spent over £180 million in signing new players. In the 2024/25 transfer season, they have also offloaded more than 11 players. In 2024, approximately £39 million has been spent in buying two new players.
| Total spend (in 2024) | Total receive (in 2024) |
| £39.2 million | £9.55 million |
