Analyzing the Impact of Kylian Mbappé’s Potential Move to Saudi Arabia on Global Football
The Rise of Saudi Arabia in the Transfer Market
Even though the chances of the Frenchman following the footsteps of some other big names that have moved to the Middle East this transfer window are still quite low, it’s still interesting to discuss what kind of an impact a potential move would have on the transfer market as a whole.
A Look Back at China’s Football Project
Looking back, more than five years ago now, China was probably the richest market outside of the top five. The Chinese football project was focused on strengthening the league, and national team by extension, by adding a couple of big names to almost every single team in the first division – some of them being Oscar, Hulk, and Alex Teixeira.
The Chinese bubble burst long ago now, and that fact leaves us with the question of whether the same thing would happen in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Broader Sports Vision
A critical aspect worth discussing is how such a move would impact fan engagement and viewership for Saudi football. Mbappé is not just a footballer; he is a global brand. His transfer would significantly boost interest in the Saudi Pro League, drawing eyes and attention from all over the world. It could serve as a monumental boost for the league’s global profile, far surpassing the collective impact of all the other high-profile transfers to Saudi Arabia to date.
The Saudis are currently focused on not only football as a sport but also on their public image. The idea is to host around twenty-five – yes, you read that right – world championships in various sports by 2030. Compared to China, the Saudis have a bit of a larger project on their hands at the moment.
Big Names Moving to Saudi Clubs: A Trend or a Fad?
Sure, football might be the most popular option of the bunch, but will the project make the Middle Eastern country that is home to around 35 million people a regular footballing destination, or if it is only a current trend that will eventually be forgotten? Time will tell.
Some of the biggest names that have transferred to Saudi Arabia during the summer transfer window of 2023 at the time of writing this article are:
- Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr
- Karim Benzema to Al Ittihad
- N’Golo Kante to Al Ittihad
- Ruben Neves to Al Hilal
- Kalidou Koulibaly to Al Hilal
- Edouard Mendy to Al Ahli
- Roberto Firmino to Al Ahli
- Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli
- Marcelo Brozović to Al Nassr
- Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq
- Sergej Milinković-Savić to Al Hilal
- Alex Telles to Al Nassr
What Mbappé’s Move Could Mean for the Striker Market and PSG
Of course, if Kylian Mbappé somehow transferred to one of Saudi Arabia’s big four before his peak, that would definitely leave a mark. The Frenchman is currently only 25 years old, and it is well-known that he has been a fan of Real Madrid ever since he was a kid.
The current striker market is fairly poor at the moment, and there is no doubt that Mbappé’s move to basically any other club in the world will both start a domino effect and will probably make other football clubs rethink their transfer strategies.
A hole in PSG’s lineup could lead them to make another high-profile signing, triggering a chain reaction across Europe’s top leagues. This could bring about a reshuffling of key players among top clubs, each aiming to fill the gaps or seize an opportunity to bolster their ranks.
Keep in mind that PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments. Another fairly wealthy owner that probably has no issues with either losing or spending a couple of hundred of million euros. Mbappé still has a year left on his contract with PSG. This summer has proved to be quite crucial for his career and we’ll see if he’ll sign an extension with PSG, make a move to Madrid, or will he shock the world and play in the Saudi Pro League the next season.
Globalization of Football Talent
The potential move also speaks to the growing globalization of football talent. For years, the sport has been predominantly Euro-centric when it comes to top-tier club competition. However, with significant investments coming from China, the United States, and now potentially Saudi Arabia, we may be entering a new phase where talent is more evenly dispersed across continents. This dispersal has potential benefits for the sport’s development globally, offering new pathways for talents from various backgrounds.
Lastly, a move like this could serve as a capstone to the rising profile of Middle Eastern football. With Saudi Arabia already investing heavily in its sports sector and planning to host numerous world championships, landing a star like Mbappé would be an emphatic statement of intent. The Middle East could well become a regular destination for footballing talent. This would shift the global dynamics of the sport in a way that few could have imagined even a decade ago.
In conclusion, whether or not Mbappé decides to take his talents to Saudi Arabia, even the consideration of such a move opens up fascinating questions and possibilities for the world of football.
