In a league now famed for its galaxy of aging European stars, one former Premier League icon arrived in Saudi Arabia with great expectations, only to find himself eclipsed by the blinding light of two towering figures—Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
While the Portuguese and French legends continue their duel for the Saudi Pro League’s Golden Boot and championship glory, another South American attacker has quietly concluded his Middle Eastern chapter. His exit, confirmed this week, signals the end of a brief and bittersweet spell in the Kingdom.
Though his name once lit up Anfield and echoed in Champions League nights, the 33-year-old forward found life in Saudi Arabia far less forgiving. He arrived in the summer of 2023 amid fanfare, billed as a marquee signing for Al-Ahli, a club with ambitions to rise in the wake of the Saudi soccer boom. But by the end of the 2024-25 season, his impact had waned, and the club made it official: his journey with them was over.
Saudi Arabia adventure ends for former Premier League ace
Roberto Firmino, the former Liverpool talisman, will part ways with Al-Ahli this summer after just two seasons, with the club confirming the mutual termination of his contract. Firmino’s stint began with promise. In his debut year, he was an integral part of Al-Ahli’s historic triumph in the AFC Champions League, scoring six goals and providing seven assists, including two key assists in the final against Kawasaki Frontale.
“Despite his decline in performance, Firmino contributed to achieving a historic accomplishment for the club,” said “Khalid Al-Ghamdi, the president of the club. “He played an important role in our Asian title — a first for Al-Ahli.”
Yet his domestic form did not match expectations. The Brazilian struggled to cement his place in the Saudi Pro League squad and was excluded from the second half of the campaign, a telling sign that his time in the Kingdom was nearing its end.
What comes next?
Before his Middle East move, Firmino had already etched his name into Premier League history. With 82 goals, he remains the league’s highest-scoring Brazilian, a record forged during a glittering spell at Liverpool from 2015 to 2023. A key member of Jürgen Klopp’s swashbuckling front three, Firmino helped the Reds to Premier League and Champions League glory, lauded as the glue that connected Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
But the dream did not fully translate in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the Brazilian’s immediate focus is securing a move, with reports suggesting a strong interest in a return to his homeland. Flamengo, one of the country’s most storied clubs, are rumored to be front-runners for his signature. Having previously played for Figueirense and Tombense, a homecoming now looks likely.
