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The Saudi Pro League winter transfer window closed on February 2, 2026, with the headline-grabbing free transfer of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal highlighting a period of squad adjustments across the 18-club division as clubs managed their rosters under strict foreign player rules. Transfer summaries published by Yahoo Sports showed a focus on foreign reinforcements and domestic circulation midway through the 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League campaign that began last August.
Yahoo Sports reported that Al Hilal bolstered its attack with the addition of Benzema while also signing Ivorian midfielder Kader Meïté from Stade Rennais for €30 million and fellow Ivorian Saïmon Bouabré from NEOM SC for €23 million. The club further strengthened its Saudi contingent through acquisitions including Murad Al-Hawsawi for €8.3 million, Rayan Al-Dossary for €4.06 million and Sultan Mandash for €3.43 million from various domestic sides. A Saudi Pro League handbook for the 2025-26 season specifies that of the 10 permitted non-Saudi players, at least two must be young talents born in 2004 or later to encourage development.
Al Ittihad, which lost Benzema on a free transfer, invested in new striking options with the €30 million signing of Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena from AS Monaco and Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri from Fenerbahce for €15 million. The club also saw the return of young Saudi forward Talal Haji from a loan at Al Riyadh. Such maneuvers reflect clubs seeking competitive balance while adhering to squad limits of 25 players total with 15 Saudi nationals required, according to league data from the 2025-26 handbook.
Al Shabab engaged in multiple transactions, securing Jordanian defender Ali Azaizeh on loan from Kuwait’s Kazma SC and Saudi midfielder Mohamed Al-Thani for €1.85 million from Al Qadsiah. The club also completed several outgoing loans including Haroune Camara to Al Nassr, Ali Al-Asmari to NEOM SC and Fawaz Al-Sqoor to Al Ittihad. These moves formed part of broader efforts to optimise the squad within regulatory constraints.
Al Taawoun acquired Bulgarian winger Marin Petkov from Levski Sofia for €1 million while integrating returning loanees and dispatching others such as Biel on loan to Sporting CP. Al Najma brought in Brazilian forward Felippe Cardoso for €1.2 million from Russia’s Akhmat Grozny and Egyptian midfielder Nabil Dunga for €850,000 from Zamalek. Clubs like Damac signed players including Brazilian Arielson and Ivorian Amidou Traore on free transfers from European clubs.
The Saudi Pro League’s 2025-26 regulations, as detailed in the official handbook, permit clubs to register a maximum of 25 players including up to 10 foreigners with specific youth requirements. On match days managers can name up to eight of those foreign players in the squad. This framework has guided transfer strategies since its introduction ahead of the 2024-25 season, according to multiple reports on league governance.
