Sport Features

THE Saudi Pro League now boasts the biggest salaries in world football – with the temptation to sign up for a life in the Middle East more tempting than ever.Jordan Henderson is the latest big name to swap the Premier League for a new adventure with Al-Ettifaq.

Jordan Henderson has officially signed Al-Ettifaq
Seko Fofana of Al-Nassr snubbed a move to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
While Riyad Mahrez has just completed a £30million move from Manchester City to Al-Ahli.
They will join Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and more in what’s becoming the fastest growing league in world football.
Although it appears Kylian Mbappe won’t be joining the European exodus, after reportedly snubbing a staggering £605m-per-year offer.
But, where do they rank in the top earners? SunSport has rounded up the highest paid footballers in the Saudi league to date and how much they earn per week.
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10. Seko Fofana, £250k
At just 28, Fofana is in his prime.
He was linked with a move to Arsenal, but he will be plying his trade alongside Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
His club Lens had qualified for the Champions League, but it wasn’t enough to convince him to stay in France.
9. Ruben Neves, £288k
Brutally-honest Neves was a £47m signing by Al-Hilal – leaving Wolves after six years.
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His eye-watering salary will set him and his family up for life, as he explained.
Neves said: “The main factor was my family and the chance to give them the life I have always dreamt of for them – that was the biggest reason for me to not have any doubts.
“I have three kids and a lovely wife, and I need to take care of them, that is the biggest trophy in my career.”
Ruben Neves admitted his move to Saudi Arabia was about putting family firstCredit: AFP
8. Roberto Firmino, £326k
Back in June, fan favourite ‘Bobby’ Firmino decided to leave the Reds when his contract expired.
He fielded several offers, but a deal at Al-Ahli was too good to turn down.
The 31-year-old won the Premier League title and Champions League with Liverpool.
Roberto Firmino seen enjoying his first training session at Al-AhliCredit: Instagram @robertofirmino
7. Marcelo Brozovic, £403k
Like Firmino, Champions League finalist Brozovic had a plenty of options, including Juventus.
But the former Inter Milan midfielder, 30, snubbed a Serie A stay for an opportunity at Al-Nassr.
He will link up with Ronaldo and Fofana as the Saudi club aim to improve on a second-placed finish.
Marcelo Brozovic snubbed Juventus for Al NassrCredit: Getty
6. Kalidou Koulibaly, £576k
Koulibaly’s Chelsea nightmare came to an end last month when he signed for Al-Hilal in a £20m deal.
The 32-year-old failed to live up to the hype at Stamford Bridge, so will welcome a change.
£30m-per-year won’t hurt.
Kalidou Koulibaly will hope to put his Chelsea nightmare behind himCredit: Reuters
5. Jordan Henderson, £692k
England international Henderson has penned a three-year deal with Al-Ettifaq.
He will link up with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who will manage the club.
His £692,000-per-week salary makes him the highest-paid British player in the world.
Jordan Henderson joins Steven Gerrard at Al-EttifaqCredit: Reuters
4. Riyad Mahrez, £750k
At 32, the former Leicester man’s final contract would have to be one that sets him up for life.
He said his goodbyes to Man City – signing for Al-Ahli.
Mahrez will be playing alongside former Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, who also made the move to Saudi – but doesn’t make the top 10.
Riyad Mahrez signs for Al-Ahli in a £30m dealCredit: Instagram @alahliclub.sa
3. N’golo Kante, £1.6m
Like Mahrez, this is one final payday for Kante – not that he was ever money-motivated.
After all, this is a man who drove a second-hand Mini Cooper for years during his time in the Premier League.
He will join Karim Benzema and Jota at Al-Ittihad, where he will be paid an astonishing figure considering his recent injury-plagued seasons.
N’Golo Kante stars in a friendly for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad at the King Fahd StadiumCredit: AFP
2. Karim Benzema, £3.3m
The current Ballon d’Or holder was always going to command a massive fee.
And it was obvious a staggering amount would be needed to prise Benzema away from Real Madrid.
He won five Champions League titles at Los Blancos, but a new challenge was too much to resist.
Surely he will add a few more Bugatti’s to his car collection with that money.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is the second highest paid player in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, £3.4m
The pioneer and poster boy for the Saudi Pro League.
Who knew when CR7 would move to Al Nassr from Man Utd in January, after kicking up an almighty fuss and falling out with Erik ten Hag, that the world’s biggest names would follow him?
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Ronaldo’s deal is worth a staggering £3.4m-per-week, which he penned until June 2025.
He is the highest-paid athlete in the world by a country mile.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid athlete in the worldCredit: AFP More

BAHAMAS-BASED lawyer Bryan Glinton and British-born asset manager Katie Booth are the big chiefs at Tottenham… but you’ve probably never heard of them.The Spurs ownership model is a complicated one.
Joe Lewis, who has been charged with insider trading, no longer has an active role at TottenhamCredit: Getty
Joe Lewis, 86, who has been charged with insider trading by American authorities, has family members who are part of the Lewis Family Trusts that own 70.12 per cent of ENIC – the company that owns 86.58 per cent of Spurs.
The majority stake in the club, owned by ENIC Sports Inc, is registered in the Bahamas, but it is split
Since last October, Lewis ceased to be a “person of significant control” and no longer has an active role.
His stake was shared between two associates, Miami born Bryan Glinton, a Bahamas-based longstanding legal adviser to Lewis’ Tavistock group, and British-born asset manager Katie Booth.
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They now have the same powers Lewis held at the club and have the “right to appoint and remove directors with control over the trustees of a trust”.
But who are the pair?
Bryan Glinton
Born in Miami, Florida – Glinton now resides in Nassau Bahamas.
He is a founding partner of law firm Glinton Sweeting O’Brien, which he founded in 2005.
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He is a legal advisor to Lewis’ private investment company Tavistock Group and the Albany Resort development – a 600-acre oceanside luxury resort that drew investment from Tiger Woods and singer Justin Timberlake.
According to his website, he ‘specialises in corporate law, acting for institutional investors, developers, financial institutions, international law firms and accounting firms on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and financial services.’
Previously, he worked in the US for 10 years where he worked as a financial services lawyer specialising in corporate tax, banking and securities.
In his current role, he advises corporations and private individuals on the best ways of launching projects in The Bahamas, which is how he could have met Lewis.
Interestingly, there’s not a mention of Spurs in his online bio, nor sports club expertise.
Bryan Glinton is a lawyer based in BahamasCredit: GSO Legal
Katie Booth
British-born asset manager Booth is equally as mysterious.
A businesswoman of some repute, she is also found in the Bahamas.
According to her bio, she has managed the consolidation,preservation and succession of the assets of some of the world’swealthiest entrepreneurs. Again, could be where her relationship with Lewis began.
Booth initially was a practicing private client lawyer, before she became a senior director at MeesPierson, NM Rothschildand Butterfield Bank.
In 2011, she branched out on her own with the launch of her own private wealth consultancy, which now operates from the Bahamas.
Her Amber Trust company supported single family offices, meaning she served ultra-affluent companies.
A link to Spurs has not previously been publicised.
Brit-born asset manager Katie Louise Booth manages a private wealth consultancy in BahamasCredit: YouTube / Faour Glass
Where does this leave Daniel Levy?
As for Daniel Levy, his official title is chairman.
Levy formed a business relationship with Lewis in ENIC International Ltd and became its managing director in 1995.
Thanks to him, ENIC became a sports, entertainment and media company.
In terms of the ownership model at Spurs, Levy has the remaining 29.88 per cent of the ENIC stake along with “certain members of his family”, again, via a discretionary trust.
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That leaves 13.42 per cent owned by “small shareholders”.
As of 2023, Levy is the highest paid chairman in the Premier League earning around £3.2million-per-year, according to accountancy of football expert Kieran Maguire.
Daniel Levy is the highest-paid chairman in the Premier League – earning £3.2million per year More