High-ranking officials from the European Club Association (ECA) have reassured the football community that European football is not under threat from the extensive recruitment efforts of the Saudi Pro League, despite previous concerns raised by the media.
However, European clubs are advocating for synchronization in the opening and closing dates of the transfer window in Saudi Arabia to align with those of European leagues.
This year, the Saudi transfer window remained open for an extra week compared to most European leagues. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the ECA chairman and also the President of Paris St-Germain, expressed his confidence, stating, “I don’t think there is a danger.” The ECA, established in 2008 to represent European clubs, boasts a substantial membership.
Al-Khelaifi emphasized that European clubs have been willingly selling players to Saudi clubs, which contradicts concerns about the threat to European football. He asserted, “If we are not happy, why do we sell our players to them? That’s the truth. Is it dangerous? I told you my opinion. If there is a danger, the European clubs will not be quiet. So far, I don’t see any danger.”
Nonetheless, certain clubs have expressed apprehension about the possibility of Saudi Pro League clubs acquiring European players during the gap between the closure of the transfer window in major European leagues and the Saudi window. For example, Al-Ittihad has continued its pursuit of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah despite the Premier League season already being underway.
Jan-Christian Dreesen, Bayern Munich’s Chief Executive and now an ECA Vice-President, suggested, “We shouldn’t be worried about it. We have fantastic competitions. We don’t have to be afraid. But I would prefer the window to be closed at the same time. I would propose that.”
During the ECA’s general assembly in Berlin, Manchester City’s Chief Executive, Ferran Soriano, took the vacant Premier League spot on the ECA board. Celtic’s Chair, Peter Lawwell, was named a Vice-President, and Martina Pavlova, International Relations Manager at Sparta Prague, and Michele Kang, the owner of Olympique Lyonnais Feminine, were elected to represent female representatives on the board. Pavlova also holds the position of Vice-President.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Spain Women’s World Cup team and Spanish FA President Luis Rubiales, Pavlova stated, “The ECA speaks for itself – its values are clear. We all know there are some proceedings [against Rubiales]. We have to wait for the outcome.”
