European football not in danger from Saudi Pro League spending
European football is not in danger from the vast Saudi Pro League recruitment drive, say senior figures at the influential European Club Association.
However, European sides want alignment over when the Saudi transfer window opens and closes.
This year, the Saudi transfer window has remained open for a week longer than in most European leagues.
“I don’t think there is a danger,” said ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The ECA was founded in 2008 to represent the interests of clubs from across Europe, and includes includes hundreds of member teams.
Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari former tennis player who is also Paris St-Germain president and has been a member of Uefa’s executive committee since 2019, added: “We believe in ourselves.
“We have the best and biggest competitions and the best players. It is not for me to judge what is happening outside of Europe. But listen, most of the clubs sold players to them. If we are not happy, why do we sell our players to them? That’s the truth.
“Is it dangerous? I told you my opinion. If there is a danger, the European clubs will not be quiet. So far, I don’t see any danger.”
The Saudi Pro League had the fourth highest overall transfer spend this summer, exceeding Spain’s La Liga and the German Bundesliga. According to Deloitte, Saudi Pro League clubs have so far spent £691m.
