Big money on offer: Saudi club hunts for players with job advert | OneFootball

The Saudi Professional League has surprised the winter transfer market with an unusual move: instead of negotiating only behind closed doors, the league has gone public in its search for players through a job advertisement.

'Bild' refers to the portal 'Futboljobs', where a job offer has been posted targeting experienced professionals. They are looking for a defensive midfielder for a club in Saudi Arabia – exactly which club is not specified in the ad.

(Image source: futboljobs.com)

The profile they are seeking: experience in professional football, ideally from a country’s top league. Applications can be submitted either with a current CV or through an online profile (e.g., “Transfermarkt”). In addition, the league requires a highlight video showcasing the player’s qualities.

The player should be unattached or represented by an agent who fully represents his interests. The offered salary ranges between €600,000 and €1 million per year.

It is certainly unusual at this level for a league or club to recruit a player via a job portal, but it also shows that in football, anything is possible.

In recent years, clubs in the Saudi Professional League have shaken up the international football market with enormous financial resources. Stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been playing for Al-Nassr since 2023 and is among the highest-earning professionals there, are part of this trend.

With such recruitment methods, the league apparently aims to continue attracting talents and experienced professionals—not just behind closed doors, but visibly for the entire football world.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 FAYEZ NURELDINE - AFP or licensors