Al-Hilal have committed close to one billion Saudi riyals to rebuilding their attack in a single transfer window. Saudi broadcaster Khalid Al-Shenaif confirmed the figure on the programme Doreena Ghair, tying it to three forward signings: Crysencio Summerville, already through the door from West Ham United, plus advancing deals for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

That number matters beyond the headline. It signals that Riyadh’s most decorated club is not simply replacing departing forwards, it is resetting the ceiling for what a Saudi Pro League attacking unit costs.

The Numbers Behind the Headline

Al-Hilal’s move for Summerville was already the benchmark deal of the summer, with the Dutch winger arriving from West Ham in a transfer reported in the region of €64.5 million. The Martinelli and Watkins deals, still being finalised as of late August, have been separately valued by UK outlets at a combined figure close to £110 million, with Martinelli’s move said to be worth around £58 million and Watkins’ closer to £50 million.

Put together, those figures broadly support the SAR 1 billion framing offered by Al-Shenaif on Saudi television, even before agent fees, signing bonuses, and wage packages are factored in. Martinelli’s reported terms alone, close to £17 million a year, underline how aggressively Al-Hilal are competing for talent that would ordinarily stay inside Europe’s top five leagues.

Why Al-Hilal Are Spending Now

The rebuild is not happening in isolation. Al-Hilal have moved on Brazilian winger Malcom, whose exit to UAE side Al Jazira freed up both wage space and a foreign player slot. Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez has also left on loan, joining newly promoted Al Diriyah, clearing a second slot under Saudi Pro League squad regulations.

Those two departures are not incidental. Saudi Pro League clubs operate under a cap on registered foreign players, so every incoming marquee name typically requires an outgoing one. Al-Hilal’s business this summer reads as a coordinated squad reset rather than opportunistic spending.

The more delicate situation sits with Karim Benzema. The France international remains under contract, but reports of friction with the coaching staff have persisted through the window, and industry sources suggest his long-term future may hinge on whether Al-Hilal complete the Watkins deal. A statement, physical number nine arriving from the Premier League would give head coach Simone Inzaghi a like-for-like alternative to build around if Benzema’s Riyadh chapter does eventually close.

Where the Money Is Coming From

Al-Shenaif credited the spending power to Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, and the financial history supports that framing. Kingdom Holding Company, the prince’s investment vehicle, agreed a deal earlier this year to acquire a majority stake in Al-Hilal from the Public Investment Fund, in a transaction that valued the club’s total share capital at SAR 1.4 billion. Kingdom Holding has been a major financial backer of Al-Hilal for years, including covering the full cost of Benzema’s original transfer from Al-Ittihad.

That ownership shift is part of a broader pattern. PIF has been gradually reducing its direct stakes across the “big four” Saudi Pro League clubs, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, as it redeploys capital toward its 2026-2030 domestic investment strategy. Al-Hilal’s move to majority private ownership under Kingdom Holding effectively hands Prince Al-Waleed direct control over recruitment strategy, and this summer’s spending is the clearest evidence yet of what that control looks like in practice.

What This Means for the Saudi Pro League Title Race

Al-Hilal enter the new campaign with arguably the most reshaped attacking line in the league. If Martinelli, Watkins and Summerville all arrive as expected, Inzaghi will have three players with recent, meaningful Premier League and Champions League experience to rotate alongside established performers such as Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Theo Hernandez.

For Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, the spending sets a new competitive marker. Cristiano Ronaldo has previously voiced frustration over what he perceives as greater financial flexibility afforded to Al-Hilal compared with Al-Nassr, and a billion-riyal attacking rebuild will do little to quiet that narrative heading into the season.

The immediate test comes on the pitch. Al-Hilal face Al-Khaleej in Saudi Pro League action, an early opportunity to see whether the investment is translating into cohesion under Inzaghi before the more physically demanding stretch of the season and the club’s continental commitments begin.

What Happens Next

Watkins’ absence from Aston Villa’s Premier League squad and Martinelli’s exclusion from Arsenal’s matchday plans both point toward imminent departures, though neither deal was formally confirmed as of this reporting. Should both move before the Saudi transfer window closes, Al-Hilal’s front line will have been almost entirely rebuilt inside a single summer, a scale of turnover rarely seen even by the Saudi Pro League’s own recent standards.

FAQ

How much has Al-Hilal spent on attacking players this summer?
Saudi media pundit Khalid Al-Shenaif has stated the combined value of contracts for three forwards, Crysencio Summerville, Gabriel Martinelli and Ollie Watkins, is approximately SAR 1 billion.

Has Al-Hilal completed the Martinelli and Watkins transfers?
Summerville’s move from West Ham is complete. Martinelli and Watkins were both in advanced negotiations as of late August, with personal terms reportedly agreed but formal announcements pending.

Who owns Al-Hilal?
Kingdom Holding Company, controlled by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, holds a majority stake in Al-Hilal following a deal with the Public Investment Fund earlier in 2026.

Why is Karim Benzema’s future uncertain at Al-Hilal?
Reports point to friction between Benzema and the club’s coaching staff, with his long-term status potentially tied to whether Al-Hilal complete a deal for a replacement centre-forward such as Ollie Watkins.

Who has left Al-Hilal to make room for the new signings?
Brazilian winger Malcom has departed for UAE club Al Jazira, and Darwin Nunez has joined newly promoted Al Diriyah on loan, freeing up foreign player registration slots.