• Loading stock data...
Saturday, April 19, 2025

Neymar’s $300M Move Displays Saudi Pro League’s Impact

  • Neymar joins Ballon d’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia.
  • The Saudi Pro League just secured a U.S. media rights deal with Fox Sports.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Saudi Pro League continues to make its impact felt across international soccer just one week into its new season.

Neymar is joining the upstart league in a deal that will cost nearly $300 million, including a $98.5 million transfer fee. Al-Hilal lured the Brazilian superstar from Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain with an $88 million annual salary for the next two seasons.

If it wasn’t already clear, the SPL has no plans to stop courting the sport’s top players. Cristiano Ronaldo has made the biggest headlines thanks to a contract valued at more than $200 million with commercial incentives. He was followed by former Real Madrid teammate and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who is reportedly making more than $100 million per year.

While the SPL couldn’t lure Kylian Mbappe for even just one year — despite being willing to shell out at least $1 billion in total — Neymar is only 31, which still represents a coup for the Saudi League, as he is much younger than Ronaldo (38) and Benzema (35).

Expanding Media Reach

Some SPL coverage has been broadcast via Fox Sports’ digital channels since Friday. The network has signed on as the league’s English- and Spanish-language media rights partner in the U.S. and could reportedly show several games per week on its FS2 cable channel. 

While it’s unclear how much the rights are costing Fox, any media exposure from a major American company is a big step up for a league with little previous clout in international soccer.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NHL Breaks Attendance Record for Third Straight Season

More than 23 million hockey fans attended games this season.

UFL Dealing With Challenges Three Weeks Into Second Season

The spring football league is in its second season.
RFK

Commanders Plan $3B Return to RFK Stadium Site—With Some Opponents

A potential deal calls for a new stadium costing more than $3 billion.

WNBPA Matches NBA’s 3-Point Contest Prize. Will Caitlin Clark Join?

The 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend will be in Indianapolis.

Featured Today

Dec 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) watches as center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after making a three point basket to clinch a win against the Toronto Raptors near the end of the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena

Same Owner, New Knicks: New York’s Remarkable Rebound

The franchise’s renaissance didn’t happen overnight.
Masters
April 18, 2025

Why The Masters Quietly Cracked Down on Ticket Resellers

Insiders expect big changes are coming to ticketing at Augusta National.
exclusive
April 16, 2025

Inside Nico Iamaleava’s Ugly Breakup With Tennessee

Iamaleava’s representatives claim to FOS he didn’t push for more NIL money.
Jul 29, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; France center Dominique Malonga (14) and guard Marine Johannes (23) celebrate after defeating Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy
April 13, 2025

‘Has to Change’: The WNBA’s International Player Problem

As more global stars arrive, the “prioritization” rule is causing tension.
UFL

UFL and Players Union Agree to New CBA, Pending Board Approval

Players say the new deal gives them wins on wages and healthcare.
Jan 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
April 17, 2025

Thunder, Cavs Are NBA Title Contenders on a Budget—for Now

The NBA playoffs tip off this weekend.
April 18, 2025

Golf’s Other Majors Won’t Follow Masters Lead in Banning Phones

Phone intrusions at past majors have led to strong reactions from golfers.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
Kim Ng
April 17, 2025

Kim Ng Is Trying to Crack Pro Softball’s Toughest Problem

Ng’s new task is translating the popularity of college softball to pros.
April 17, 2025

Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Ambitions Could Present New Pay Questions

The Heisman Trophy winner is adamant about playing both ways as a pro.
April 16, 2025

PGA Tour’s Wesley Bryan Suspended For Competing in LIV Golf Creator Event

The suspension had been expected for several weeks.
April 16, 2025

PGA Tour Will Emulate MLB Pitch Clock in Push to Speed Up..

Distance-measuring devices will be used on a preliminary basis.