
<p>This summer’s transfer window has been dominated by the Saudi Pro League’s efforts to become a popular destination. Top European soccer players received massive pay upgrades to play in the Middle Eastern nation. Now, Liverpool star Roberto Firmino is making the move to Saudi Arabia to join an already-impressive cast of footballers.</p>



<p>For example, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/cristiano-ronaldo-joins-al-nassr-in-211-million-per-year-deal-20221231-WST-413970.html">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/karim-benzema-bids-farewell-to-real-madrid-after-14-years-20230604-WST-436009.html">Karim Benzema</a> are two Ballon d’Or winners in the Saudi Pro League. Former Chelsea players <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ngolo-kante-joins-al-ittihad-in-deal-worth-over-100-million-20230621-WST-438816.html">N’Golo Kante</a>, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy made the switch. More recently, Marcelo Brozovic and Ruben Neves signed with Saudi Pro League clubs. Each of these four players will or already does represent one of four clubs. Those are Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli. The Saudi Public Investment Fund, or PIF, controls each of those.</p>



<p>Saudi PIF is said to still be on the hunt for more top talent this summer. With players like Bernardo Silva, Neymar, Alvaro Morata, David de Gea and many more on their wish list. The PIF provides an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-cant-compete-financially-against-saudi-arabias-riches-20230606-WST-436282.html">unmatched financial incentive</a> to take playing careers over to Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is unsurprising to see so many high-profile players relocate. </p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="SAUDI ARABIA EFFECT and How It&apos;s Changing Soccer 🇸🇦" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Op0AjYD3bMU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>Al-Ahli officially brings Roberto Firmino to Saudi Arabia</h2>



<p>Roberto Firmino is signing a three-year contract with Al-Ahli, according to the club. The 31-year-old’s contract at Anfield expired at the end of June. Rather than re-upping on a new deal, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/roberto-firmino-to-leave-liverpool-at-end-of-season-report-says-20230303-WST-422026.html">attacker opted for a fresh challenge</a>. That took him away from Merseyside after a <a href="https://twitter.com/ALAHLI_FCEN/status/1676354776781529089" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">famously successful stint</a> at Anfield.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Si Señor 🫡🪄<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeFirmino?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeFirmino</a> <a href="https://t.co/jZGcJXCUon">pic.twitter.com/jZGcJXCUon</a></p>— النادي الأهلي السعودي (@ALAHLI_FC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ALAHLI_FC/status/1676337450006765570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Firmino leaves as Liverpool legend</h5>



<p>Along with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner, the Brazilian departed the Reds as a free agent this summer. After the last game of the season, both the squad and the supporters gave the four retiring players a standing ovation, with the greatest cheers reserved for the contemporary great Firmino.</p>



<p>Together with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, he formed a lethal attacking combination that led to Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League, 2020 Premier League, and 2022 FA Cup and League Cup titles.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo</em></p>


Saudi Arabia snatched up yet another Premier League star in Roberto Firmino after already acquiring several of the league's biggest names.

Saudi Arabia poaches Roberto Firmino as latest EPL star


<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/stvs_team/seattle-sounders-fc/">Seattle Sounders</a> succumbed to a late goal from Al Ahly as they crashed out of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/club-world-cup-tv-schedule-streaming-links/">Club World Cup</a> at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco on Saturday evening.</p>



<p>The Sounders had earlier scripted history when they beat Mexican side Pumas in the Concacaf Champions League final last May to <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/fifa-club-world-cup-morocco-2022-dates-teams-draw-matches-venues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">qualify for the Club World Cup.</a></p>



<h5>Sounders lacked competitive action</h5>



<p>The Sounders hadn’t played a competitive match since their campaign ended in the MLS season in September, but dominated the game against the Egyptian side and would rue missing their opportunities. </p>



<p>Al Ahly on the other hand have been unbeaten in their domestic league this season and haven’t lost since last August.</p>



<p>Substitute Mohamed Afsha scored the game’s solitary goal in the 88<sup>th</sup> minute thanks to a deflection after his initial effort had struck against the crossbar.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Afsha puts <a href="https://twitter.com/AlAhly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlAhly</a> ahead 1-0!<br><br>His right footed follow up shot from outside the box takes a fortunate deflection and finds the bottom right corner 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/eNw9l4Aduz">pic.twitter.com/eNw9l4Aduz</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1621944641959387136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The Sounders should have taken the lead in the 14<sup>th</sup> minute, but Nicolas Lodeiro dragged his volley well wide off goal. </p>



<p>Jordan Morris also had an opening but his tame header went harmlessly past the post as Al Ahly hardly created any chances of their own in the first half.</p>



<p>Soon after the restart, the Egyptians began to impose themselves on the game by building from the back and having the lion’s share of possession. </p>



<p>They came close twice to open the scoring on the night, but Sounders held firm despite showing signs of fatigue and heavy legs that led to gaps in defense.</p>



<p>Afsha had a golden opportunity to give his side the lead in the 69<sup>th</sup> minute but dragged his shot wide with only Stefan Frei to beat in the Sounders goal. </p>



<p>The MLS side had to soak up the pressure for the majority of the second half as chances came at a premium.</p>



<h5>Al Ahly score the only goal</h5>



<p>Afsha however redeemed himself minutes later. First, his looping effort hit the crossbar before the ball somehow found its way to the striker again who then took aim from distance.</p>



<p>The ball took a wicked deflection off Alex Roldan wrongfooting Frie before crawling its way in to give Al Ahly the victory on the night.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Sebastian Frej</p>


Seattle Sounders conceded a late goal from Al Ahly as they crashed out of the Club World Cup on Saturday evening.

Saudi Arabia poaches Roberto Firmino as latest EPL star

Al Ahly

Saudi Arabia poaches Roberto Firmino as latest EPL star

Al Ahly

Seattle Sounders succumb late to Al Ahly in Club World Cup