The major theme of the 2023 summer transfer window was the spending power of Saudi Arabia and the masses of great players who chose to leave Europe and play their football in the Middle East.
The wages on offer were simply too great for players to turn down and prominent stars – and not just those over 30 years of age – chose to sign for clubs like Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad and more.
Fast-forward six months, though, and some of the biggest names who headed out to the Saudi Pro League are now doing all they can to return to Europe, regardless of how much money it may cost them or how it may tarnish their reputations.
Perhaps the highest-profile departure from the Saudi Pro League in January so far is Jordan Henderson. The former Liverpool captain opted to join Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in the summer, bringing an end to a 12-year career at Anfield.
Soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia, he gave an interview to The Athletic in which he defended his decision to go to a country where homosexuality is illegal after he had previously shown so much support for the Rainbow Laces campaign in the United Kingdom.
After suggesting his intention was to further the game in another part of the world, Henderson wanted to leave and signed for Ajax in the Netherlands. It seems he could be followed out of Saudi Arabia by former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino, who joined Al Ahli but has reportedly also had enough and could land at Newcastle or even Arsenal in the January transfer window.
The other really big name who could leave this month is Karim Benzema. The former Real Madrid striker is being heavily linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. It certainly isn’t a great look for the Saudi Pro League given these clubs didn’t throw the money around only to have players leave after six months.
There are a number of key reasons for players to not have clicked with life in Saudi Arabia. Some are sporting, some are cultural, and all of the reasons combined seem to outweigh the obscene riches on offer.
Lack of public interest in football
One of the major criticisms levelled at the Saudi Pro League when players started heading there was the lack of a football culture. That isn’t true, but it’s fair to say the game is nowhere near as popular in comparison to top-flight football in almost any European or South American nation.
For a player like Henderson who attempted to be a key…
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