Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al‑Nassr in 2023, Saudi clubs have spent nearly a billion pounds on overseas talent. 

While the Public Investment Fund’s deep pockets made headlines, certain European teams have seen especially large returns by selling key players to the Saudi Pro League. 

Here are the 10 clubs that have collected the biggest fees:

Aston Villa – £121 million

Villa top the list thanks to two blockbuster deals in the summer of 2023. They sold young striker Jhon Duran to Al‑Nassr for £71 million, a club‑record fee that helped fund upgrades at Villa Park.

Shortly afterwards, Moussa Diaby joined Al‑Ittihad for £50 million, allowing Villa to reinvest in new signings and strengthen their midfield and defensive ranks.

Porto – £95.1 million

Portugal’s powerhouse Porto turned just two outgoing transfers into a huge windfall. In early 2024, they sold midfielder Otavio to Al‑Nassr for £51.9 million, using the money to expand their youth academy and scouting network.

Defender Galeno followed with a £43.2 million move to Al‑Ahli, boosting Porto’s budget for new signings and helping them maintain their domestic dominance.

Paris Saint‑Germain – £89 million

PSG’s biggest sale came when the club reluctantly accepted Neymar’s £77.8 million bid from Al‑Hilal in mid‑2023. The remaining balance came from fees for Georginio Wijnaldum (£6.9 million) and Danilo Pereira (£4.3 million).

These departures cleared room on PSG’s wage bill and funded investments in young talent across their academy and women’s team.

Manchester City – £74.8 million

City converted three key exits into nearly £75 million. Riyad Mahrez left for Al‑Ahli in January 2024 for £30 million, freeing up space for new wingers.

Veteran defender Aymeric Laporte joined Al‑Nassr for £23.6 million, and full‑back João Cancelo moved for £21.2 million. The collective proceeds helped City continue their pursuit of domestic and European trophies without financial strain.

Chelsea – £55 million

After a period of transition, Chelsea capitalised on three sales to Saudi clubs in 2023–24. Edouard Mendy’s move to Al‑Ahli brought in £16 million, Kalidou Koulibaly’s transfer to Al‑Hilal netted £20 million, and young winger Angelo Gabriel fetched £19 million from Al‑Nassr.

The funds were channelled into Chelsea’s global scouting network and infrastructure improvements at their Cobham training base.

Liverpool – £52 million

Liverpool saw two departing leaders bring in over £50 million. Midfielder Fabinho joined Al‑Ittihad for £40 million, and captain Jordan Henderson moved to Al‑Ettifaq for £12 million in early 2024.

These sales helped pay down transfer debts and allowed Liverpool to target emerging talents in youth competitions across Europe.

Wolves – £52 million

Wolves turned homegrown star Rúben Neves’s transfer to Al‑Hilal into £47 million, a record for the club. They then sold winger Daniel Podence to Al‑Shabab for around £5 million.

These fees provided the financial firepower for Wolves to expand their training facilities and invest in community outreach programs in the West Midlands.

Zenit St. Petersburg – £51.9 million

Zenit’s sole major sale was forward Malcom’s switch to Al‑Hilal for about £51.9 million. That single transfer filled the club’s coffers and underwrote new contracts for their domestic title push. Zenit used part of the proceeds to enhance their sports science department and improve the fan experience at the Gazprom Arena.

Fulham – £50 million

Fulham’s biggest payday came when Aleksandar Mitrović rejoined Al‑Hilal for £50 million in mid‑2024. The Cottagers reinvested that windfall into a mix of seasoned Premier League signings and youth prospects.

The club also upgraded its Craven Cottage facilities, boosting capacity and training resources for future promotion bids.

Roma – Approx. £38 million

Roma generated around £38 million across three transfers: defender Roger Ibañez for €23 million (about £19.9 million), midfielder Houssem Aouar for €12 million (£10.4 million), and young goalkeeper João Costa for €9 million (£7.8 million).