RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League, in collaboration with all 18 clubs, announced on Thursday its comprehensive preparations and key priorities for the upcoming summer transfer window and the 2024-25 season.
As part of the Player Acquisition Center of Excellence program, which was launched in 2023, the SPL held meetings with all top-flight clubs in the final months of last season to understand more fully their targets and requirements. The program was launched as one of seven in the SPL’s transformation strategy.
The SPL remains committed to providing a supportive and centralized approach to transfers. This includes assisting clubs with squad mapping and player care by offering expertise, governance, and sustainability measures.
The SPL’s priorities for the season and transfer window include supporting existing contracts by prioritizing current deals to ensure the success of players by providing the necessary resources.
Other aims include strategic acquisitions to address clubs’ technical gaps and secure top talent.
Another priority is its sustainability policy, which is to ensure players are signed for technical needs, supported for success, and fairly valued.
Off the pitch, the SPL clubs continue to attract top-tier talents to their administrative ranks.
Al-Shabab recently appointed Domenico Teti as sporting director, while Al-Nassr appointed Fernando Hierro. Both sporting directors join Esteve Calzada, Al-Hilal’s CEO; Ron Gourlay, Al-Ahli’s CEO; Lee Congerton, Al-Ahli’s sporting director; Ramon Planes, Al-Ittihad’s sporting director; and James Bisgrove, Al-Qadsiah’s CEO, as new appointments ahead of the new season.
In addition, the SPL has conducted a series of workshops with partner leagues in Europe and Asia to further develop areas of cooperation and mutual benefit. Discussions have covered topics such as mutual promotion, broadcast development, and alignment on transfer window dates.
The Player Acquisition Center of Excellence program, according to the SPL, serves as a collaborative tool with clubs to enhance their acquisition capabilities.
The program has so far recruited 97 players and reviewed over 200 contracts, significantly reducing contract termination costs and lowering the average age of signed players from 29 to 27.5 years. The ultimate aim is to focus on signing players under the age of 21.
SPL outlines priorities for player acquisitions, club development before new season
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SPL outlines priorities for player acquisitions, club development before new season
- League remains committed to providing a supportive, centralized approach to transfers
- Clubs continue to attract top-tier talents to their administrative ranks
Celtic out of Europa League despite win at Stuttgart
- Luke McCowan found the net inside the opening minute
- Stuttgart advance to the last 16 and will find out in Friday’s draw whether they face Porto or Braga
PARIS: Celtic bowed out of the Europa League on Thursday after losing 4-2 on aggregate to Stuttgart despite a 1-0 away win in the second leg of their knockout phase play-off tie.
After last week’s 4-1 defeat in Glasgow left Martin O’Neill’s side facing a three-goal deficit, they made the ideal start to the second leg, with Luke McCowan finding the net inside the opening minute.
But Celtic could make no further inroads and their exit left the Scottish champions still seeking a first European knockout tie victory since 2004, with their domestic supremacy also under threat this season from Hearts.
Stuttgart advance to the last 16 and will find out in Friday’s draw whether they face Porto or Braga in the next round.
Nottingham Forest will look to join Aston Villa in the last 16 later on Thursday, taking a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their tie against Fenerbahce at the City Ground.
