Saudi Pro League outspends Spain's La Liga after Henderson signing

The Saudi Pro League has ​​​​​​for the first time spent more in summer football signings than Spain's illustrious La Liga, following the transfer of Jordan Henderson from Liverpool.

A summer spending bonanza using state funds has brought major European names including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Diogo Jota to the Saudi league.

Henderson became the latest big-name signing for Al-Ittifaq – managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard – landing a deal this week which will make the 33-year-old the best-paid English footballer in history with earnings of £700,000 a week.

Henderson’s signing meant that overall spending for transfers to the Saudi Pro League has topped £225 million, nearly a four-fold increase on last year’s outgoings. Clubs in Spain’s world famous La Liga have so far this summer spent just £201 million.

Last summer, the Saudi top tier spent the comparatively meagre sum of £80 million - with their most expensive signing coming from UK tier 2 side West Bromwich Albion. 

But the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo to Riyadh club Al-Nassr in December appeared to have opened the floodgates, with several other stars leaving Europe to join Saudi teams since.

The vast majority of players who have made their way to the Saudi Pro League have been in their 30s and entering the twilight of their careers with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) largely bankrolling the moves. 

In a new statement of intent, the latest wave of players in the sights of Saudi teams has included French superstar Kylian Mbappe, who is just 24. 

But Mbappe eschewed a one-year cash-in deal with Riyadh club Al-Hilal that was the most lucrative offer ever to a football player.

Saudi Arabia has vowed to turn its top-flight domestic into one of the top 10 in the world by the end of the decade, with the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund buying up its top four clubs to make this happen.