June 18, (THEWILL) – Portugal international, Ruben Neves, is on the verge of a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal reportedly ready to shell out £47 million for the captain of English Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Neves, who had just one year remaining on his contract, is set to leave for a club-record fee. Saudi Arabia, known for its vast oil wealth, has recently been rapidly making its mark on the global sports stage by spending billions of dollars, despite facing criticism over its human rights record. Neves’ move follows Karim Benzema’s recent transfer to the Saudi Pro League, indicating a trend of European stars seeking opportunities in the country.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old midfielder’s move stands out as a departure by a player still in his prime, unlike recent transfers of aging footballers. Amid financial pressures, Wolves will greatly benefit from the substantial offer for Neves, as they have been under scrutiny to comply with EPL spending regulations. The club had invested £150 million in transfers over the past year, necessitating the need to offload players. Since joining Wolves in 2017, Neves has amassed an impressive record of 253 appearances and 30 goals. He played a crucial role in the team’s promotion from the Championship and helped secure two consecutive seventh-place finishes in the EPL.
Despite reaching the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals in 2020, the club struggled to maintain that success, ending the previous season in 13th place. The move to Al Hilal marks a significant shift for Neves, who had attracted long-term interest from Barcelona and still has many productive years ahead of him.
The influx of European stars to the Saudi Pro League appears to be gaining momentum. Besides Neves, France’s N’Golo Kante is rumoured to join Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad, as he reportedly rejects a contract renewal from Chelsea. These transfers highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports, facilitated by its substantial financial resources.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
