Youssef En-Nesyri among Saudi Pro League stars hit by major market-value drops

Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri is among a group of high-profile Saudi Pro League players whose market values have fallen significantly ahead of the new season.

En-Nesyri’s value has dropped by €5m to €17m, according to recent market-value updates, placing the Al-Ittihad forward among the biggest fallers in the Saudi top flight.

The decline comes after a difficult campaign for the Moroccan, who joined Al-Ittihad with expectations of filling the void left by former striker Karim Benzema.

Nunez suffers biggest drop

Al-Hilal striker Darwin Nunez has recorded the largest decline, with his market value falling by €15m to €20m.

The Uruguay international’s drop has attracted attention given the expectations surrounding his move to Al-Hilal and the significant investment made in bringing him to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Qadisiyah forward Mateo Retegui suffered the second-biggest decline, losing €10m to reach €30m, while Al-Hilal defender Theo Hernandez’s value fell by €8m to €20m.

The three players have collectively lost €33m in market value.

En-Nesyri among Al-Ittihad fallers

En-Nesyri’s €5m decline puts him alongside several other prominent players affected by the latest valuation changes.

The Moroccan striker faced criticism during his first season at Al-Ittihad because of his performances and limited influence in some important matches.

His decline also forms part of a wider fall in value among Al-Ittihad players. Moussa Diaby has lost €3m and is now valued at €25m, while Enzo Melot has also fallen by €3m to €25m.

European stars also affected

The list extends beyond Al-Ittihad and includes several players with significant European experience.

Al-Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has seen his value fall by €3m to €12m, while Al-Qadisiyah’s Cameroon Puertas has dropped by the same amount to €7m.

Neom goalkeeper Marcin Bulka has lost €5m, taking his value to €12m, while Al-Nassr winger Kingsley Coman has suffered a €2m decrease to €20m.

Market values need context

The latest figures raise questions about the sporting and financial returns Saudi clubs are getting from some of the major investments made in recent transfer windows.

However, a fall in market value should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that a player has become a worse footballer.

Player valuations are influenced by several factors, including age, contract length, injuries, consistency, recent performances and the level of competition in which they play.

For En-Nesyri, the challenge will now be to rediscover his best form at Al-Ittihad and demonstrate why he remains an important part of Morocco’s attack, while the Saudi Pro League’s major clubs will hope their high-profile signings can translate their investment into success on the pitch.