30 July 2023 , 05:00
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As Jordan Henderson becomes the first England international to sign a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia, the numbers at play for the big earners in the Saudi Pro League have come into focus.
The ex-Liverpool captain has completed his move to Al Ettifaq, who are managed by former Reds favourite Steven Gerrard. He has followed Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry in joining the Dammam-based outfit, while a number of other European stars took the plunge earlier this summer.
Here, Mirror Football takes a closer look at the league's 10 highest earners. The identity of many of the figures won't come as a surprise, but Henderson earning more than twice as much as former Anfield colleague Roberto Firmino certainly catches the eye.
10. Seko Fofana - £250,000 per week
Former Manchester City youngster Fofana was tipped for a move to a European big-hitters after impressing in France for Lens. Instead, though, he has become one of the Saudi Pro League's rarities - a top player moving there before his 30th birthday.
The 28-year-old has joined Al Nassr, following Ivorian international team-mate Ghislain Konan in making the move over from Ligue 1. The offer of £250,000 per week (figures via The Sun) was enough for him to turn down Champions League football in Europe in favour of a shot at the equivalent competition in Asia.
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9. Ruben Neves - £288,000 per week
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Ruben Neves is one of the younger additions to the Saudi Pro League (AFP via Getty Images)Another twentysomething, Neves completed a move to Al Hilal earlier in the summer. Reports suggested his new side parted with a £47m fee as well as £288,000 in weekly wages.
The title contenders have not been afraid to splash out on transfer fees as well as wages. They have also snapped up Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Brazilian forward Malcom at a combined cost of just shy of £100m.
8. Roberto Firmino - £326,000 per week
After eight years with Liverpool, Firmino opted to leave in search of a new challenge. There was interest from Europe, but ultimately the Brazil international accepted an offer from Al-Ahli.
Roberto Firmino left Liverpool after eight years (@ALAHLI_FCEN/Twitter)By snapping up the former Hoffenheim star on a free transfer, the newly-promoted side were able to offer him a huge £326,000 per week. Plenty of others are earning more, though.
7. Marcelo Brozovic - £403,000 per week
Brozovic, 30, moved to Al Nassr after playing for Inter in the Champions League final and will earn a £403,000 weekly wage with his new side. He had spent eight years with the Nerazzurri, the same amount of time Firmino had been at Liverpool.
A midfield partnership between the Croatia international and Fofana will make Luis Castro's side a threat this term. And that's before you look at the attacking threat of Cristiano Ronaldo and Anderson Talisca.
Marcelo Brozovic has already settled into life at his new club (Getty Images)6. Kalidou Koulibaly - £576,000 per week
Koulibaly is one of a number of players to move from Chelsea to the Saudi Pro League. It could have been even more, had a Hakim Ziyech switch not fallen flat at the eleventh hour.
The former Napoli centre-back only spent one year in England before moving to Al Hilal, joining former Premier League rival Neves. A weekly wage of £576,000 is the highest for any defender in Saudi Arabia.
5. Jordan Henderson - £692,000 per week
The headline figure for Henderson's move to Al Ettifaq is the £692,000 per week in wages. That's more than double the sum earned by former club colleague Firmino and makes the 33-year-old the highest earner at his new club.
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Jordan Henderson has joined Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq (Twitter@https://twitter.com/Ettifaq_EN)"It's sad, absolutely strange because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, but I think it is exciting for him as well," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said. "We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that's clear - as a man and as a player. But, as I said, that's football."
4. Riyad Mahrez - £750,000 per week
Fresh off his treble win with Manchester City, Mahrez has joined Al-Ahli. The Algerian has moved for £30m, with his wages sitting at £750,000.
After topping the second division last season, Al-Ahli have also made a change in the dugout. Former South Africa national team boss Pitso Mosimane has made way, with Mathias Jaissle joining from Red Bull Salzburg.
3. N'Golo Kante - £1.6m per week
N'Golo Kante has joined compatriot Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad (AFP via Getty Images)Kante was out of contract this summer and chose to join Al Ittihad despite efforts from Chelsea to keep him around. The French midfielder's £1.6m weekly wage hasn't been matched by any of the Premier League stars to follow him to Saudi Arabia, and indeed few have come close.
"The time has come to open a new chapter in my career," the Champions League winner wrote in a farewell message to his former club. "But before doing so, it was important for me to thank the great and wonderful Chelsea family."
2. Karim Benzema - £3.3m per week
Kante wasn't the first member of the France national team to move to Saudi Arabia. The former Leicester man has joined international team-mate and current Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad, with Benzema among the first of the league's summer recruits.
Benzema is one of two Ballon d'Or winners in the league, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (AFP via Getty Images)The 35-year-old was still capable of delivering at the top level, as evidenced by his 19 La Liga goals last term. His £3.3m weekly wage at Al Ittihad is huge, and the reigning champions will hope he can deliver them more silverware.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo - £3.4m per week
Signed midway through last season, Ronaldo is the only player on this list who was already in the Saudi Pro League before the current window. The Portugal international joined after leaving Manchester United by mutual consent.
With £3.4m per week in wages, Ronaldo saw his pay packet swell upon joining Al Nassr. He scored 14 goals for his new side last term, but it wasn't enough for them to win the title.