Leading figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar have left a lasting impression in the world of football, many having recently joined the Saudi Pro League. However what about the captivating stars who went under the radar?
Players who were once regarded among the elite in the Premier League and European football are now largely forgotten after transferring to the Gulf states for substantial sums.
Here are seven players who have completely vanished from the football scene since moving to Saudi Arabia:
Ivan Toney
It was only about six months ago that Toney was netting crucial goals for England at the Euro 2024 tournament, being considered among the top contenders to back up Harry Kane.
He’s likely nowhere near Thomas Tuchel’s short-term plans now. He’s scored eight goals in 17 appearances for Al-Ahli since leaving Brentford, but was overlooked for Lee Carsley’s squads in the last three international breaks and never even came close to making the selection.
The player is still only 28 years old, so part of him may regret missing out on international opportunities during his prime years. However, he can possibly comfort himself with a significant amount of money, reminiscent of Scrooge McDuck.
Sadio Mane
Your regular reminder that Mane was born the same year as his former Liverpool teammate Salah.
Mane has somewhat faded into the background.
The Senegalese forward left the Liverpool area in pursuit of a new challenge in 2022, but his transfer to Bayern Munich ultimately proved unsuccessful and led to a departure from the German team after just one year.
Currently, he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, although he is still waiting for his first victory with the team.
Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian stayed at Liverpool for a year longer than Mane, but left when his contract ended in 2023, as the club looked towards the future with a revamped midfield and attack.
Barcelona were reportedly targeting Firmino’s signature, but he instead accepted the higher pay benefits available at Al-Alhi. He often serves as the team’s captain, and takes the field alongside other Premier League veterans such as Allan Saint-Maximin and Riyad Mahrez.
Firmino does feature for one of the Saudi Pro League’s better-backed teams, but their average attendance is still only a small part of Liverpool’s and is more like those of Championship teams like Sheffield Wednesday or Middlesbrough.
Gabri Veiga
“Toni Kroos called it ‘embarrassing,’ his one-word verdict on Instagram, when Fabrizio Romano revealed the highly-rated Spanish wonderkid had left his boyhood club Celta Vigo to sign for Al-Ahli as part of the Saudi Pro League’s initial assault on the transfer market in 2023.
There’s an alternate reality out there where the skilled midfielder teamed up with Kroos at Real Madrid or maybe another top European club he was on everybody’s lips to join, going on to play for Spain in their thrilling Euro 2024 victory.
In this reality, he is still waiting for his first senior La Roja cap; it is highly likely that this will never happen unless he returns to Europe. With eight goals and five assists from 39 appearances at Al-Ahli, he has become somewhat of an afterthought.
Joao Cancelo
It still feels like only yesterday that Cancelo was considered one of the top full-backs in the Premier League, not to mention all of Europe.
He’s now playing for Saudi Pro League winners Al Hilal after falling out with Pep Guardiola and two high-profile loans to Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Cancelo continues to receive call-ups for Portugal alongside Ronaldo, but no one would have predicted this downfall from his stellar form, which was on full display when he helped Man City win its first two titles of a record four consecutive championships.
Moussa Diaby
Aston Villa continue to excel despite letting go of two key players from last season, defeating Bayern Munich and putting themselves in a position to finish within the top eight in the Champions League group stage.
Given that Leon Bailey is struggling with his form and Aston Villa has a midfield that appears somewhat thin, one can make an argument that they still need both Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.
If Diaby were leaving a top Premier League or Champions League team, it might have been hard to accept. But considering he plays for Al-Ittihad in a relatively minor league, it’s easy to overlook him.
The French winger has 10 assists in his first 10 Saudi Pro League games, with an impressive four in a single match, consistent with high standards from a €60 million transfer.
Houssem Aouar
We’re old enough to recall when Aouar was a regular name mentioned in transfer rumors, often compared to a player of the caliber of Julian Draxler or Leandro Damiao, in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The French playmaker was most strongly associated with Arsenal, whom he was expected to aid in kickstarting the Mikel Arteta era before they eventually signed Martin Odegaard.
He stayed at Lyon until 2023, and then joined Jose Mourinho’s Roma, but that stint was over as quickly as it started, lasting only one season. He was subsequently transferred to Al-Ittihad.
