474 Updates
As the season progresses in the Middle East, Transfermarkt has revised the market values for 474 players in the Saudi Pro League. While Cristiano Ronaldo’s value remains stable at €12 million, there have been notable fluctuations among other top players in the league. Mateo Retegui of Al-Qadsiah, despite a €5 million decrease from €45 million to €40 million, continues to be the highest-valued player in the league.
“Retegui has been a notable addition to Saudi Arabia,” said Tiberius Radziejewski, Transfermarkt’s Area Manager for Asia. “After a remarkable season at Bergamo, he transitioned to the Saudi Pro League and has made a solid start to his campaign, with eight goals and one assist in 12 matches. However, his market value has dropped due to his exit from one of the top European leagues.”
Retegui holds the title of the most valuable player in Saudi Arabia partly because Darwin Núñez, who shared the top spot with him prior to the update, saw his market value plunge by €10 million from €45 million to €35 million. “Darwin Núñez joined the Saudi Pro League after a challenging season in the EPL, and while he is nearing his previous season’s goal tally, he has been plagued by minor injuries. Unlike Mateo, who expresses satisfaction with his new environment, reports suggest that Núñez is unhappy in Saudi Arabia, leading to rumors of a potential departure. Due to the less favorable circumstances, Núñez’s market value was adjusted more significantly than Retegui’s,” Radziejewski explained.
Saudi Pro League Market Updates: Hernández and Diaby Decline – João Félix Experiences an Increase
Núñez’s teammate at Al-Hilal, Theo Hernández, has also seen a reduction in his market value. Radziejewski noted, “Theo’s market value has been on a downward trend in recent years. Despite performing excellently, his international reputation appears to be waning, and the recent transfer windows reflect limited value potential for him.” His market value has decreased by €7 million, from €35 million to €28 million.
Other French national team players have experienced similar market adjustments: Kingsley Coman (Al-Nassr), Moussa Diaby (Al-Ittihad), and Enzo Millot (Al-Ahli) all saw declines. “Coman has had an outstanding season with Al-Nassr, but his downgrade from €30 million to €22 million was inevitable since he is no longer in a top league,” Radziejewski commented. Diaby’s market value dipped by €2 million from €30 million to €28 million. “Unlike Coman, Diaby hasn’t been in the national team picture since just before his €60 million transfer to Al-Ittihad, and he is currently experiencing difficulties with his club.” Millot’s value similarly fell to €28 million after joining Al-Ahli, following a slow start to his season.
Conversely, not every former European star is experiencing a drop in value. João Félix has received a €5 million increase to €25 million, marking his first upgrade since March 2022. “He is leading the league with 11 goals and three assists and is poised to surpass his breakthrough season from six years ago, prior to his €127 million transfer,” said Radziejewski. The addition of Félix, under Coach Jorge Jesus, could be the catalyst Al-Nassr needs to secure their first trophy since Ronaldo joined the team. Operating as a second striker, his favored position allows him to excel in both scoring and playmaking, while also being instrumental in defensive recoveries—a significant signing for both the player and the club after several challenging seasons.”
Understanding Transfermarkt Market Values
Transfermarkt calculates market values through various pricing models, primarily driven by community discussions and evaluations. It’s important to note that these market values do not equate to transfer fees or predicted prices; instead, they reflect the expected worth of a player in an open market. Factors like individual transfer modalities and situational contexts play a crucial role in determining these valuations. Transfermarkt utilizes no automated algorithms for these processes (detailed market value definitions can be found here).
