Newly married Cristiano Ronaldo chases milestone as Al Hilal regroup: Saudi Pro League season preview

The 2026/27 Saudi Pro League season is set to begin on Thursday with several changes for Al Ahli Saudi. Franck Kessie and Riyad Mahrez, who helped the team win consecutive AFC Champions League Elite titles, have left the club due to contract expirations. New manager Marino Pusic replaces Matthias Jaissle, who has moved to England to take over at Newcastle United.

Pusic led Shakhtar Donetsk to the Ukrainian league title in 2024 and will rely on Ivan Toney for goals. However, Toney faces an assault charge that will be heard in a London Magistrates Court on September 24. Toney scored 42 goals last season as Al Ahli reclaimed the Asian Champions League. Al Ahli will start their season by hosting promoted Diriyah, with two new signings expected to make their debuts.

The club has invested heavily in winger Francisco Trincao, who signed from Sporting for €39.3 million. Trincao replaces Algerian star Mahrez, who left for Barcelona after three successful seasons with Al Ahli. Another newcomer is Eduard Spertsyan, a 26-year-old Armenian playmaker signed from Krasnodar for around €22 million. In other fixtures on Thursday night, Abha returns to the top tier after a seven-year hiatus to face Al Hazem, while Al Qadsiah, led by Brendan Rodgers, aims to improve on their fourth-place finish from last season.

Al Qadsiah boasts Mexico forward Julian Quinones, who scored 33 league goals last season and netted three during the recent World Cup. Al Hilal, looking to reclaim the crown, has signed Netherlands forward Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United for €64.5 million. Summerville was part of the Netherlands squad during this summer's World Cup, where they were eliminated by Morocco in the Round of 32.

Hilal will rely on experienced players like Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez, Malcom, and Salem Al Dawsari, along with returning loanees Joao Cancelo and Mohammed Al Qahtani, to give them options. The club will host Al Faisaly, while Al Riyadh will face Al Ettifaq on Friday. Cristiano Ronaldo, who ended his trophy drought last season by guiding Al Nassr to the Pro League title, has scored 976 goals in his senior career, including three goals in the recent World Cup for Portugal.