Saudi Pro League's Star Signings: Assessing the Impact of Summer's Big-Money Arrivals

The 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season is in full swing, and the latest wave of talent is already making a significant impact on the title race. This summer's recruitment strategy focused on acquiring established internationals in their prime. While several of the most expensive signings have quickly justified their hefty price tags, others have faced scrutiny. Al Hilal currently leads the standings with 21 points, holding a two-point advantage over Al Qadsiah and defending champions Al Nassr. This article examines the performance of the league's newest international imports.

Gabriel Martinelli (Al Hilal)

English Premier League club Arsenal secured their record sale when Gabriel Martinelli joined Al Hilal in September for £60 million. Martinelli expressed his pride in joining a club where his countryman Neymar previously played. However, Martinelli will undoubtedly aspire to a more successful tenure at Hilal than the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, whose contract was terminated after an injury-plagued 18 months in Riyadh. Following a quiet debut off the bench against Al Shabab, Martinelli acknowledged that he might require "some time to adapt" to his new environment, having been with the Gunners since 2019. These initial concerns were quickly dispelled as the 25-year-old scored a hat-trick just over a week later in Hilal's dominant 6-0 victory over Al Taawoun, ending a seven-month goal drought. He then opened the scoring in the crucial Saudi Clasico win against Al Ittihad on Saturday, bringing his league goal tally to four in four appearances. Manager Simone Inzaghi praised him after Tuesday's 2-0 AFC Champions League victory at Al Sadd, stating, "He’s a big player and we are lucky to have Martinelli."

Tijjani Reijnders (Al Qadsiah)

Reijnders was candid about his motivations following his £52 million move from Manchester City. "Me a money grabber? I can't deny that," he admitted. "By signing this contract, I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it?" Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers has deployed him in his preferred box-to-box role, and Reijnders responded by scoring on his debut in the 2-0 win against Neom. The 28-year-old then netted a brace in the 3-2 defeat of Al Ahli at the start of September and opened the scoring in Friday's commanding 5-0 victory over Al Kholood. Notably, three of his four league goals this season have been scored from outside the penalty area, a tally higher than any other player in the SPL.

Crysencio Summerville (Al Hilal)

Summerville transferred to Al Hilal in a £60 million deal from West Ham United, who had recently been relegated from the top tier of English football. The 24-year-old's first goal came against Al Khaleej in his third appearance, where he scored with a dinked finish as Hilal secured a comprehensive 5-1 win. Summerville also provided his first two assists in that same match. He found the net again the following week, scoring with a powerful low drive from a tight angle, and also netted a crucial winner against Al Ittihad. Summerville has recorded three goals and three assists in his eight league appearances for the club.

Samu Costa (Al Nassr)

Al Nassr signed Samu Costa from Mallorca for €22 million at the request of new coach Ange Postecoglou, with the 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder brought in as a replacement for Marcelo Brozovic. Recruited to inject more energy into the reigning champions' midfield, his early performances have drawn criticism. Former Al Nassr defender Hussein Abdulghani commented on television that Costa's signing was "disastrous" and dismissed comparisons to Brozovic, suggesting Cristiano Ronaldo had influenced the management's decision to sign his compatriot. Despite the criticism, Costa has scored three goals in seven SPL appearances, including in Friday's 3-0 win over Diriyah. Furthermore, his cross led to an own goal that sealed a 3-1 Champions League victory against Neftchi on Monday.

Francisco Trincao (Al Ahli)

Former Barcelona attacker Francisco Trincao insisted that "the passion of Al Ahli supporters was one of the main reasons" he moved to the Jeddah club in a €40 million deal from Sporting. However, passionate fans can also be demanding, and Trincao, tasked with succeeding the highly regarded Riyad Mahrez, has faced challenges as Marino Pusic’s side lost three of their opening six games. Despite these early struggles, the 26-year-old Portuguese appears to be finding his form, scoring four goals in his last four SPL matches. This includes a brace against Al Fateh on Friday, which earned him the man-of-the-match award. Trincao then contributed one goal and one assist in Al Ahli's 3-1 Champions League victory over UAE outfit Al Wasl in Dubai, just three days later.

Ollie Watkins (Al Hilal)

Al Hilal invested £50 million to acquire England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, a player the club had been monitoring since the previous season, according to manager Simone Inzaghi. Watkins scored on his debut against Al Ahli and was visibly delighted with the reception he received. "The fans were calling my name. From minute one, it was amazing," he stated. He later described Saudi football as being of "Premier League quality." Watkins has already registered five goals and four assists in his six appearances for Hilal and played a key role in all three goals during their 3-2 victory over Al Ittihad. He was on target again on Tuesday, having opened the scoring in the team's away win against Qatari side Al Sadd.