Saudi Arabian football clubs splashed $957 million on players in the summer transfer window, with a net spend of $907 million that was second only to Englands Premier League, Deloitte said on Friday.

Star players such as Neymar and Karim Benzema were among 94 overseas acquisitions, including 37 from Europes top five leagues, the financial consultancys Sports Business Group said.

Much of the Saudi Pro Leagues business was done with English Premier League clubs, which received $698 million in overseas transfer fees including $312 million from Saudi teams.

The Pro Leagues net spend, deducting money received from selling players, was $907 million, placing it behind the Premier Leagues net spend of $1.39 billion.

Saudi clubs spent $148 million in Frances Ligue 1, $122 million in Italys Serie A, $116 in Spains La Liga and $32 million in Germanys Bundesliga, Deloitte said.

The Saudi Pro Leagues high placing came despite a busy window where the big fives gross spend was $6.1 billion, about a quarter higher than last summers $4.85 billion.

The Pro League, Including four teams owned by the governments oil-funded Public Investment Fund, has been buying players to revamp the league as part of the countrys ambitious economic diversification plan.

Deloittes figures do not include Al-Nassrs signing of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived in Riyadh in January in a two-and-a-half-year deal said to total 400 million euros.

Izzy Wray of the Sports Business Group said it was the first time since 2016 that an international league had outspent any of Europes big five in a transfer window.

The ambitious number of player acquisitions and the calibre of players signed by Saudi Pro League clubs demonstrate the kingdoms commitment to propelling the SPL to become a leading football league on the world-stage, Wray said.

This is still early days of what we can call phase one of the Saudi Pro League project, and the futuristic view is also reflected by the lowered average age of the league compared to last season.

Saudi officials have set the target of making the previously unheralded Pro League one of the worlds top five domestic football competitions as measured by the quality of players, stadium attendances and commercial success. (AFP: Text, Excluding Headline)

In this handout picture released by the Saudi Al-Hilal football club on August 15, 2023, Brazilian forward Neymar (L) poses for a picture with Hilal President Fahad bin Nafel in Paris. “ Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Saudi Arabias Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs announced today, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.