Here is a list of Chelsea players who have joined the Saudi Pro League, know why the Blues are selling up to Saudi Arabia clubs
Since some of Chelsea’s stars have been linked to moves to the Saudi Pro League, the club has continued to be a topic of conversation during current transfer window.
List of Chelsea players who have joined the Saudi Pro League and transfer news links
Final contracts checked, deal closed for Hakim Ziyech set to join Al Nassr. It’s all agreed with Chelsea since last week and also on player side. 🟡🔵✅🇸🇦 #CFC
Contract until June 2026, just matter of medical tests and then official.
Here we go confirmed. pic.twitter.com/uTZYmpul3M
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 26, 2023
Several Chelsea players are following international stars like Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, where many European athletes are migrating.
Despite interest from Manchester United and Barcelona, 26-year-old midfielder Ruben Neves of Wolves has shown that even players in the prime of their careers are amenable to competing in the Saudi Pro League by agreeing to sign with Al-Hilal for £47.1 million ($60 million).
How many Chelsea players have joined Saudi teams this summer?
N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly are the Chelsea players who have so far this summer confirmed a move to Saudi Arabia. After his contract expires on June 30, 2023, Kante will sign with Al Ittihad and play with Karim Benzema.
According to reports, Koulibaly declined a transfer to Inter Milan in order to pursue a move to the Saudi Pro League. Koulibaly, with a transfer fee of €23 million to officially join Al Hilal on June 25.
Hakim Ziyech may be joining Ronaldo and Anderson Talisca at Al Nassr, while Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been heavily touted to a move to Al Ahli.
Romelu Lukaku declined a move to the league in order to commit his future to Inter, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might be seen to the Middle East.
Why are Chelsea players moving to Saudi Arabia?
Despite Saudi Pro League teams not garnering as much worldwide media attention as UEFA Champions League sides, players still have a great incentive to move to Saudi Arabia.
Kante will get £67.6 million ($86 million) year for four years at Al Ittihad, while Benzema will make £84 million ($107 million) annually for three years at the same club. Koulibaly’s reported salary for the upcoming season is $30 million.
The financial incentives for players will definitely be strong given the sport’s earlier retirement age compared to other professions, even though not everyone would be generating as much money. Chelsea has made more than $500 million in transactions since Todd Boehly became the new owner, raising questions about whether they are abiding by Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
If the Blues sell players to the Saudi Pro League for big quantities of money, they will undoubtedly gain from being able to conduct business without being concerned about violating any FFP rules.