Saudi Pro League lets five high-profile stars leave after landmark spells

The Saudi Pro League has seen a major clear-out of the players who helped establish its current era, with five high-profile names departing after three seasons of major achievements.

Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessie, Fabinho and Marcelo Brozovic have all left their clubs, as Saudi sides move to reduce spending on players earning substantial salaries.

Benzema leaves after title-winning season

The most prominent departure is former France striker Karim Benzema, who was released by Al-Hilal less than half a season after joining the club.

Benzema arrived in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, moving from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad. Across two and a half seasons with the club, he scored 54 goals and provided 17 assists in 83 appearances.

His biggest achievement came in the 2024-25 campaign, when he led Al-Ittihad to the domestic double for the first time in the club’s history. The Jeddah side won the Roshn Saudi League and the King’s Cup, while Benzema was named the league’s best player.

A disagreement over a contract renewal led to his move to Al-Hilal during the most recent winter transfer window. He spent half a season with the club, scoring 10 goals and supplying five assists in 16 matches.

Although his involvement was limited, Benzema was part of the Al-Hilal squad that won the King’s Cup. The club nevertheless decided to part company with him at the start of the current season.

Mahrez and Kessie depart Al-Ahli

Riyad Mahrez is another major name to leave the Saudi Pro League after winning three trophies in three years.

The Algeria winger joined Al-Ahli from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 and scored 37 goals while registering 50 assists in 122 appearances.

Mahrez played a central role as Al-Ahli won the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in their history. He provided more assists than any other player in the 2024-25 edition of the competition.

He also helped fulfil a promise made to the club’s supporters by delivering another continental trophy in the following season. In addition, Al-Ahli won the Saudi Super Cup for only the second time in their history and for the first time in nine years.

Despite those contributions, Al-Ahli terminated Mahrez’s contract unilaterally after the end of last season, even though the agreement was due to run until the end of the current campaign.

Since leaving, the 34-year-old has been linked with a return to the Roshn Saudi League. A move to Al-Shabab has been discussed most prominently, while Al-Ittihad have also been mentioned as a possible destination. As a free agent, Mahrez can join a club without waiting for the winter transfer window.

Al-Ahli also allowed Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie to leave when his contract expired at the end of last season.

Kessie spent three years with the club after joining from Barcelona in the summer of 2023. He made 119 appearances, scoring 26 goals and creating 15 more.

His most memorable contribution came in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite final, when his goal, alongside one from Brazilian winger Wingerston Galeno, helped Al-Ahli claim their first continental title.

Kessie was influential again during the club’s second Asian triumph in the most recent season, scoring important goals in the knockout rounds. He also found the net as Al-Ahli won the 2025 Saudi Super Cup.

Those achievements did not prevent Al-Ahli from ending his time at the club. Supporters continued to remember his contribution and called for his return, but Kessie instead joined Atalanta on a free transfer.

Fabinho follows Al-Ittihad exit

Fabinho’s three-year spell with Al-Ittihad also ended after a period of major success.

The Brazilian midfielder moved from Liverpool to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 and played 111 matches in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists.

His statistics did not reflect his importance to the team. Fabinho established himself as a key figure at Alinma Stadium and helped Al-Ittihad complete a historic domestic double by winning the Roshn Saudi League and the King’s Cup.

He was also the club’s trusted penalty-taker when other senior players, including Benzema, were unable to take responsibility from the spot. Fabinho proved reliable whenever called upon.

However, Al-Ittihad decided to release him after the end of last season. The club subsequently found it difficult to settle on a replacement, moving between Senegalese midfielder Dion Lopy, Colombia international Richard Rios and Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

Fabinho has since returned to Europe, joining former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah at Turkish club Trabzonspor on a free transfer.

Brozovic left without a club

Another midfielder to leave was Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic, whose contract with Al-Nassr ended at the conclusion of last season.

Brozovic joined the Riyadh club from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 after a fierce contest for his signature involving Barcelona.

During his three years with Al-Nassr, he made 124 appearances, scoring eight goals and assisting 23 times.

His only trophy during his first two seasons was the Arab Club Champions Cup, a friendly club competition. However, he ended his Saudi spell by helping Al-Nassr win the Roshn Saudi League for the first time in seven years.

The club chose not to extend his contract after that success, leaving the 33-year-old without a club at the time of writing.

Ronaldo’s future also questioned

Cristiano Ronaldo has not been released by Al-Nassr, but his position has come under scrutiny. The Portugal captain has finished as the Saudi league’s leading scorer in two of the past three seasons and passed 100 goals in the competition after roughly three and a half years.

Following Al-Nassr’s 2-1 defeat by Al-Ittihad at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday, former Al-Hilal striker Sami Al-Jaber called on the club’s hierarchy to consider letting Ronaldo go.

Al-Jaber argued that Ronaldo was no longer performing at his previous level and suggested Al-Nassr should take the same approach as Al-Hilal had with Benzema. Former Al-Ittihad captain Mohammed Noor rejected that view, pointing to the value Ronaldo brings to Saudi football.

Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr expires at the end of the current season. He has previously admitted that this campaign could be his last in professional football.

If that proves to be the case, the Saudi Pro League will not be the setting for his departure alone. The entire football world would be witnessing the farewell of one of the sport’s greatest players and most celebrated figures.