From Nunez to Coman: Biggest Saudi Pro League transfers of summer 2025

Another summer, another window of headline-making moves in the Saudi Pro League. What began as a flurry of superstar arrivals in 2023 has matured into a more targeted and strategic recruitment drive, with clubs no longer simply signing stars but bringing in players to fill specific tactical gaps.

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Here, Al Arabiya presents the standout transfers from the 2025 summer window.

Mateo Retegui (Atalanta to Al Qadsiah) – $75.6 million

Al Qadsiah sent shockwaves through European football by landing Italy striker Mateo Retegui from Atalanta for a reported $75.6 million, making him the most expensive Italian signing of all time. The Argentine-born forward has been a late bloomer on the European stage, but his breakout season in Serie A - in which he finished as the division’s top scorer - earned him this record move. Retegui is known for his penalty-box instincts, smart movement between center-backs, and ability to score with both feet.

For Al Qadsiah, a club intent on joining the Pro League’s elite, Retegui represents the crystallization of its ambition. With fan favorite Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returning to Marseille, Retegui’s arrival gives Qadsiah a proven scorer to build an attack around. At 26 years old, the Italian is a striker entering his prime and the pressure is certainly on for him to deliver instantly in terms of goalscoring, and forging a relationship with fellow frontman Julián Quiñones.

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool to Al Hilal) - $61.7m

The Saudi Pro League’s other blockbuster summer transfer came in the form of Darwin Nunez’s move to Al Hilal. The Uruguayan arrived from English Premier League champion Liverpool in a $61.7 million deal that could rise to nearly $75.6 million with add-ons. Nunez is renowned for his explosive pace, relentless pressing and a playing style that earned him the nickname “Agent of chaos” in England. His numbers at Anfield - 40 goals in 143 appearances - were solid if not spectacular, but his ability to disrupt defensive lines was undeniable.

At Al Hilal, Nunez provides something different to Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Serbian forward who has carried the team’s attack for two seasons. Mitrovic remains, but Nunez offers a more mobile option as a player who thrives running into channels, playing on the shoulder, and using his acceleration to stretch defenses. He is a headline arrival for new Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi; Nunez represents the kind of attacking upgrade that could keep Hilal at the forefront of the race for the Saudi Pro League title.

Joao Felix (Chelsea to Al Nassr) - $40.4 million

Few players divide opinion like Joao Felix. Once the world’s most expensive teenager when Atletico Madrid paid Benfica $146.7 million for him, his career in Europe has been a story of flashes of genius punctuated by inconsistency. Loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona showed glimpses of his qualities - close control, clever positioning between the lines, and the ability to deliver decisive passes or strikes - but he never fully settled anywhere after leaving Benfica.

Now, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus believes he can give his compatriot a new lease of life. A $40.4 million deal brought him to Riyadh on a two-year contract, with the club viewing Félix as a foil for talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. With Talisca spending last season on loan at Besiktas before leaving permanently this summer, Al Nassr had been missing a natural creative presence behind Ronaldo. Felix has been brought in to fill that gap on a long-term basis and if he can rediscover the swagger that earned him the Golden Boy award in 2019, Al Nassr will have a player capable of turning tight contests in its favor.

Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich to Al Nassr) - $29 million

A player with one of modern football’s most eye-catching CVs, Kingsley Coman - at 29 years old - already has 13 league titles to his name. Having triumphed in France with PSG, in Italy with Juventus, and most recently with Bayern Munich in Germany, Coman also famously scored the winning goal for the Bavarians in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. His hallmark attribute is his devastating acceleration and ability to beat full-backs one-on-one - something that will immediately give Al Nassr a different dimension on its flanks.

The $29 million fee, which is expected to rise to closer to $41 million, underlines AlNassr’s ambition to surround Ronaldo with Champions League-caliber teammates. With Joao Felix also arriving, Coman’s presence casts some doubt on the future of Sadio Mane, who has endured a mixed spell in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, in a squad that already had attacking firepower, Coman provides balance, width, and an ability to stretch compact Pro League defenses. His signing also reflects a clear strategy: Al Nassr wants players who can contribute immediately to improving the club’s fortunes on the pitch.

Theo Hernandez (AC Milan to Al Hilal) - $29 million

One of the more symbolic Saudi Pro League moves of this summer is Theo Hernandez’s switch from AC Milan to Al Hilal. At $29 million, Hilal acquired one of Europe’s best attacking full-backs in his absolute prime. Hernandez has been a major force for Milan in Serie A, combining speed, strength and attacking instinct to become as much a forward threat as a defender. His runs from deep are often difficult to detect, while he possesses an impressive crossing ability and unusual eye for goal for a left-back.

For Al Hilal’s Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi, who enjoyed an excellent 2024-25 campaign, Hernandez’s arrival will likely be bad news - while veteran Saudi full-back Yasser al-Shahrani may also struggle to match the new signing’s dynamism. With a backline already boasting Kalidou Koulibaly, the Hernandez’s addition makes Al Hilal’s defense one of Asia’s most enviable. The Frenchman also brings international pedigree, having featured prominently for Les Bleus, and his presence underlines Al Hilal’s intent to dominate domestically and in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Nathan Zeze (Nantes to Neom SC) - $27 million

Newly promoted Neom SC made a statement by securing 20-year-old Nathan Zeze from Nantes for around $27 million. Labelled the ‘next William Saliba’ in France, Zeze is composed on the ball, quick across the ground, and already mature in his decision-making. Turning down interest from Liverpool and other Premier League clubs, his choice to join Neom was both bold and emblematic of the Pro League’s growing pull among young talents.

At Neom, Zeze will likely step straight into the starting XI, replacing journeyman defenders who helped secure promotion but lack his ceiling. For the club, his signing represents long-term planning - investing in a defender who could be the cornerstone of their project for the next decade. For the Pro League, it is evidence that Saudi clubs are no longer just buying veterans at the twilight of their careers, but also securing Europe’s brightest prospects.

Inigo Martinez (Barcelona to Al Nassr) - Free transfer

Arriving at Al Nassr on a free transfer from Barcelona, 34-year-old defender Inigo Martinez’s pedigree ensures he will be more than a squad player for Al Nassr. A left-footed center-back with over a decade of La Liga experience at Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao and Barca, Martinez is known for his aggression in the air, tactical awareness and leadership.

His arrival is designed to shore up a backline that looked vulnerable in crucial moments last season. With Aymeric Laporte still at the club - though his future is still a little unclear - Nassr could deploy a Spanish partnership at the heart of defense, adding calmness in possession and experience against the Pro League’s growing cast of elite forwards. While he may not have cost a fee, his impact could prove priceless in Al Nassr’s bid to finally topple Hilal and Ittihad and win the Saudi Pro League title.

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