New Delhi: The Saudi Pro League has been making waves in football with its aggressive transfer strategy. Clubs backed by the Saudi government have spent heavily to sign top European players, offering massive wages that many clubs cannot compete with. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kanté have already joined the league, and younger talents are now being targeted.
Barcelona, however, has taken a new approach to protect its stars. Having already renewed Pedri’s contract, the club is set to extend Gavi’s deal with a crucial addition—an “anti-Saudi Arabia” clause. This clause is designed to prevent Saudi clubs from triggering the release clauses of these players, ensuring they stay at Barcelona for the long term.
Saudi Pro League’s spending and its impact
BREAKING: Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has COMPLETED his Al Nassr medical and is set to fly to Saudi Arabia 🚨
Al Nassr are understood to be paying just over £64m (€77m) plus bonuses for the 21-year-old 💸 pic.twitter.com/EDAsmskkG8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 30, 2025
Saudi clubs have spent nearly $1 billion on transfers in a single window, bringing in 94 foreign players, with many coming from Europe’s top leagues. The league’s ambition isn’t just about established stars—it has been pushing to sign young talents too.
Al Nassr recently secured Jhon Duran, a 21-year-old striker from Aston Villa, as part of this shift in strategy. Reports have also suggested Saudi clubs were willing to offer over €300 million for Real Madrid’s Vinícius Junior, with wages reaching an eye-watering €1 billion over five years. This level of financial influence is now a major threat to European clubs.
Barcelona, aware of this growing challenge, has structured its latest contracts differently.
How FC Barcelona’s ‘Anti-Saudi Clause’ works
(🌕) There’s an “anti-Saudi Arabia” clause in the new contract of Pedri and there will also be one in Gavi’s. @santiovalle #FCB 🇸🇦🚨
— Reshad Rahman (@ReshadFCB) January 30, 2025
Pedri and Gavi’s contracts include release clauses worth €1 billion, a figure designed to discourage any club from attempting to buy them. But for the first time, Barcelona has added an extra safeguard specifically against Saudi clubs.
Normally, a club can sign a player by meeting their release clause, which means Barcelona would be powerless to stop an exit. The new clause ensures that even if a Saudi Pro League club offers the full €1 billion, Barcelona can still block the move. This prevents the possibility of losing their most valuable young talents purely due to financial power.
The inclusion of this clause signals a major shift in how European clubs protect their best players from external financial threats.
A new model for European clubs?
FC Barcelona’s approach could become a blueprint for other European teams looking to retain their stars. With Saudi clubs now targeting younger players, clubs will need to find ways to counter financial incentives that could lure them away.
Introducing special clauses like Barcelona’s can help maintain squad stability while preventing talents from being poached. As football evolves, such measures could become standard in contract negotiations.
For now, Barcelona has set the precedent. Whether other clubs follow suit remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—European football is finding new ways to fight back against Saudi Arabia’s growing influence.
Barcelona has introduced an anti-Saudi clause in Pedri and Gavi’s contracts, preventing Saudi clubs from triggering their release clauses. This move protects their young stars from lucrative Pro League offers. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
