Saudi Arabia is offering players thousands of dollars a week to play football in the kingdom’s fourth-flight domestic league, according to reports.
With the exception of the huge money spent by the top-flight Saudi Pro League, the Third Division, the fourth level in the Saudi football pyramid, appears to be actively recruiting players with huge enticements to play in the kingdom’s lower league.
Players could get as much as $200,000 a year and a home to compete in a league that includes relative minnows in Saudi football. These include Al-Ula, Al-Omran, and Al-Houra.
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A Spanish-language post on the Futbol Jobs website, apparently issued by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), accompanied by an image of the Saudi Arabian National Team crest, said: “Urgently needed for the Saudi Third League. Salary: $3,000 to $4,000 plus housing. Ready, free players needed
“Forward, left back + right back, playmaker, midfield anchor, central defender. Active players ready for a challenge”
The money would be slightly more than the average salaries made by footballers in the English fourth-tier league, Football League Two, of roughly £2,000 a week. However, the Saudi Third Division standard is considerably lower than its English counterpart.
The Spanish-language post would likely appeal to footballers in South America, which has thriving domestic leagues but lower pay than in Europe. The vast majority of Saudi Third Division players are Saudi nationals, with some African and Arab athletes also competing.
The Saudi Third Division was formed in 2021 and includes 32 teams, divided into four regional leagues. Group winners guaranteed a place in the Second Division, and runners-up entered a play-off with a chance of promotion.
The top-flight The Saudi Pro League has spent millions attracting some of the biggest names in football, from players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to managers including Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Al-Hilal has offered a whopping $310 million bid to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports on Monday.
The French international is reportedly being offered a $776 million pay package, the most ever paid to any footballer.
Much of the spending spree has been financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PFI), which also owns Newcastle United.
Source: NewArab
