In 2025–26, what is the average salary in the Saudi Pro League has become one of the hottest questions in global football—because the numbers are eye-watering. SantaKick takes you through the latest estimates, variations, and what this means for players and the league.
How much do players really earn on average?
According to the latest data:
- The average annual base salary across all Saudi Pro League players for 2025–26 is estimated at €6,575,533.
- If you look at just top clubs, the average jumps even higher. For example, one report puts the average for Al-Ittihad’s squad at €3.2 million but that’s for a mid-sized club in the up.
- The salary for the very highest earners in the league is in a different galaxy. Cristiano Ronaldo is reported to earn €200,000,000. Other international stars—Benzema, Mahrez, Mane—are also earning tens of millions annually.
So, while the “average” is roughly €6.5-7 million/year across the league, there’s huge variation: stars earn many multiples of that, while more ordinary professionals make far less.
Whyre is such a big gap
The big spread in salaries comes from several factors:
Club size and financial power
- Clubs like Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad have massive budgets. Their wage bills dwarf those of smaller clubs. These teams attract the top foreign talent and pay accordingly.
- Mid-tier or smaller clubs must be more modest. Even when they sign foreign names, their budgets are constrained by less sponsorship, smaller revenue, and fewer commercial deals.
Star status and negotiation power
- Big names—former European superstars—command huge salaries, signing bonuses, image rights, etc. These outliers raise the ceiling of what’s possible, and shift the average upwards.
- Domestic players or rising talents get lower pay, especially so if they don’t bring huge marketability or international recognition.
Contracts, bonuses & extras
- Reported salary figures often refer to base wages only. Bonuses, image rights, endorsements, and other perks can add a lot.
- Also, tax regimes, currency, and whether the contract is net (after tax) or gross matter a lot. Saudi Arabia’s deals for stars are often structured to attract high net pay.
Comparison with Europe and other leagues
To understand what the average salary in the Saudi Pro League means, it’s helpful to compare:
- It is significantly higher than many European leagues in terms of what an average player in the Saudi Pro League can make. Many players in leagues outside the “big 5” in Europe earn far less.
- Some analyses even rank the Saudi Pro League above certain European leagues in terms of average.
- But when compared to elite clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, etc., the very top salaries in Saudi now compete or even exceed many top European players—but those are outliers.
What thisns for players and the league
- The financial climbing has made SPL a destination not just for late career paychecks, but in some cases mid-career moves. Playing in Saudi is becoming more attractive because of the pay.
- Domestic players benefit: increased wages even among those who are not superstars, thanks to overall inflation of salaries in the league.
- On the flip side, “average” salaries hide big disparities. Many players, especially those in smaller clubs or with less international prestige, will earn much less than the league average.
Breakdown by club examples
Here are a few concrete examples to give a sense of variation:
- Al-Ittihad: Average in the squad ≈ €3.2 million/year. Their total wage bill is among the top in SPL.
- Al-Ettifaq: Average for the first-team is ~ €1.5 million/year. Much lower than top clubs but still high compared to many other leagues.
- Top stars: Players like Ronaldo, Benzema, etc., dwarf those averages. Ronaldo’s ~ €200 million/year base salary is an extreme outlier.
How reliable are these numbers?
- Most figures are estimates.
- They often don’t include bonuses, image rights, or other off-pitch income. Real total compensation can be substantially higher.
- Also, exchange rates, tax differences, and reporting standards vary, making cross-league comparison tricky.
Conclusion
The average salary in the Saudi Pro League is jaw-dropping compared to many leagues worldwide—and for a reason. Big investments, global ambitions, and superstar signings have pushed wages up. SantaKick hopes this guide gives you a clear picture of what players are really making in the kingdom.
If you want, SantaKick can also pull together top salaries by club, or compare SPL salaries with those in Europe/Liga MX/MLS—just say the word and we’ll dive in!
