The Brazilian forward player Roberto Firmino has made a shift to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli after his contract with Liverpool expired.
Firmino had spent eight seasons at Liverpool where he scored 111 goals in 362 appearances. He played a vital role in the team’s successes, including winning the Premier League, Champions League, and Club World Cup.
The transfer to Al-Ahli was announced through a video posted on social media by the Saudi club. This comes as the Saudi Pro League attracts notable players from top European leagues with high salary offers.
Firmino is one of the high-profile players who have joined sports clubs in Saudi Arabia. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard recently became the coach of Al-Ettifaq, while players like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, and Marcelo Brozovic have also made the switch to the Gulf country.
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The Saudi Pro League is attractive for talented players because it is able to pay high salaries because of funding from the Saudi national wealth fund.
Since joining the Liverpool club in 2015, Firmino played a pivotal role, contributing 111 goals and helping Liverpool secure multiple trophies, including the prestigious Champions League.
It was quite difficult for Firmino or other significant players after getting an attractive offer of high salaries from Saudi Arabia.
Examining Firmino’s statistics at Liverpool, he made 362 appearances and scored 111 goals across all competitions. His best season came in 2017-18, where he netted 27 goals in 54 matches.
In the Premier League, he scored 82 goals in 256 appearances and provided 50 assists. Firmino’s final season with Liverpool in 2022-23 saw him play 25 Premier League games, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists.
Throughout his club career, Firmino began at Figueirense in Brazil before moving to Hoffenheim in Germany. At Hoffenheim, he scored 49 goals in 153 appearances and recorded 29 assists.
His time at Liverpool was marked by significant achievements, including winning the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabia has been consistently buying best players from different regions or countries to play from their side.
This has led to a number of high-profile players making the switch to Saudi Arabia in recent years.
The Saudi Pro League is backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, which allows them to offer substantial salaries to attract top talent.
The Saudi Arabia clubs have recently signed contracts with Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, as well as Marcelo Brozovic.
These players are all world-class talents who have won numerous trophies at the highest level for their respective clubs or countries. Their arrival in Saudi Arabia is a sign that the country wants to become a winning football player at the international level.
