Three years after Cristiano Ronaldo walked through the door and triggered a gold rush of European talent, the Saudi Pro League faces a pivotal question: what happens when the novelty fades? The 2026/27 season — the league's 70th — will go a long way towards answering it. The stars are still here, the money is still flowing, and with the 2034 World Cup on the horizon, the project is far from finished.
How Last Season Ended
Al-Nassr won the 2025/26 title with 86 points, ending an eight-year league championship drought and delivering Ronaldo's first domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia. But the story of the season was Al-Hilal, who went the entire 34-match campaign unbeaten — the longest unbeaten run in SPL history — yet still finished second on 84 points. Al-Ahli were a strong third on 81, while surprise package Al-Qadsiah claimed fourth with 77 points.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Nassr | 34 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 91 | 28 | 86 |
| 2 | Al-Hilal | 34 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 85 | 27 | 84 |
| 3 | Al-Ahli | 34 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 71 | 25 | 81 |
| 4 | Al-Qadsiah | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 83 | 34 | 77 |
| 5 | Al-Ittihad | 34 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 55 | 48 | 55 |
The top scorer was Julián Quiñones of Al-Qadsiah with a remarkable 33 goals — underlining that this league now produces genuine individual brilliance, not just big-name cameos.
Al-Nassr: Postecoglou and One Last Dance
The champions enter 2026/27 with a new manager and a familiar talisman. Ange Postecoglou, the former Tottenham and Celtic boss, replaces title-winning coach Jorge Jesus and brings his trademark attacking philosophy. He inherits a squad dripping with talent: Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman, and João Félix form one of the most recognisable forward lines in world football.
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al-Nassr during an AFC Champions League match
But there's a catch. Reports from Saudi media indicate that Ronaldo, now 41, will feature in only around half of Al-Nassr's matches this season — a managed workload designed to preserve the Portuguese legend for the biggest fixtures. With his contract widely expected to expire in summer 2027, this will almost certainly be Ronaldo's final season in Saudi Arabia. His 2025/26 numbers — 28 goals in 30 league appearances — prove he can still deliver at this level, but the clock is ticking.
Postecoglou has promised "fun and trophy challenges." Defending the title while managing Ronaldo's twilight will be the ultimate test of whether he can deliver both.
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Al-Hilal: The Unbeaten Nearly-Men
Going an entire league season without defeat and not winning the title is the kind of heartbreak that either breaks a club or fuels them. Al-Hilal will be hoping it's the latter. Nine draws proved costly last season — a lesson in the difference between being hard to beat and being ruthless.
The summer has been transformative. Crysencio Summerville arrived from West Ham for a reported €64–76 million, instantly becoming the most expensive Saudi Pro League signing of the window. Add the blockbuster arrival of Karim Benzema — who left Al-Ittihad after scoring 57 goals in 87 matches — and Al-Hilal have assembled a frightening attack. With Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Rúben Neves, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (who kept 14 clean sheets last season) still on the books, this squad looks capable of converting those draws into wins.
Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad: Rebuilding in Different Directions
Al-Ahli finished third last season and have moved decisively in the transfer market. Francisco Trincão joins from Sporting CP as the headline addition, replacing the departed Riyad Mahrez. Alongside Ivan Toney and the ever-reliable Édouard Mendy in goal, Al-Ahli have the squad to challenge for the top three again.
Al-Ittihad had a season to forget — fifth place and 55 points, a massive 31-point gap to the champions. Losing Benzema to rivals Al-Hilal in January was a body blow, and the squad still features quality in Moussa Diaby and Houssem Aouar, but the Jeddah club need significant reinforcement to close the gap. The one-time champions look like they're in a transitional period.
The Star Factory: Still Open for Business
Far from winding down, the Saudi Pro League is actively targeting 50 peak-age foreign signings this summer, with recruitment efforts accelerating after the World Cup. High-profile players including Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes have reportedly been sounded out. The league is also debating changes to its foreign player rules — the current limit of eight senior foreigners per matchday squad could rise to nine or even ten, with three proposals under consideration.
This isn't a league coasting on past spending sprees. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad — continue to invest at a level that would make most European clubs blush, and the infrastructure pipeline towards the 2034 FIFA World Cup ensures long-term strategic commitment.
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Fresh Faces and Newcomers
Three teams come up from the First Division with compelling storylines. Abha bounced back instantly as champions. Al-Faisaly end a painful four-season absence from the top flight. And Al-Diriyah — making their first-ever appearance in the Saudi Pro League — have appointed former Wolves manager Bruno Lage as head coach. That a newly promoted side can attract a manager of Lage's pedigree tells you everything about the ambition swirling through Saudi football.
Meanwhile, six clubs have changed managers ahead of the new season, reflecting a league that is constantly evolving. Arthur Papas takes charge at Al-Ettifaq, where the challenge of replacing the Steven Gerrard era continues.
Prediction
Al-Hilal will win the Saudi Pro League. Their squad is the deepest in the league, the Summerville and Benzema arrivals give them a ruthlessness they lacked last season, and the motivation of going unbeaten yet finishing second will be a powerful driver. Al-Nassr will be close, but managing Ronaldo's workload across a 34-game season will cost them consistency. Al-Ahli will round out the top three.
The Saudi Pro League remains very much a destination for world stars — but it's becoming something more interesting than that. With competitive title races, genuine tactical diversity, and a growing domestic talent base, the league is maturing beyond the celebrity signings that defined its early boom. Whether that narrative survives Ronaldo's eventual departure will be the story of 2027. For now, though, the show goes on.
Sources
This post was researched using the following sources:
- Wikipedia — 2025–26 Saudi Pro League
- Wikipedia — 2026–27 Saudi Pro League
- Sofascore — Cristiano Ronaldo's 2025/26 Al-Nassr season in numbers
- KhelNow — Top three most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers of summer 2026
- The National — Summerville moves to Saudi Pro League
- Goal.com — Postecoglou explains why he joined Al-Nassr
- beIN Sports — Benzema signs for Al-Hilal
- SPL.com.sa — 2026-27 Summer Transfer Watch
Cover image: King Saud University Stadium (Al-Awwal Park), Alina.chiorean via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Inline image: Cristiano Ronaldo during Al-Nassr vs Persepolis, Mohammad Hossein Movahedi Nejad / Tasnim News Agency via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.