The summer transfer window has thrusted the Saudi Pro League into the forefront of world football, with several massive deals completed to entice some of the biggest names over the Middle East.
Reports that Neymar is now on the verge of joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and other huge stars in Saudi Arabia have just served to further boost the league's awareness among fans worldwide, and now there are many formerly European-based players spread across the league.
Is there enough to put together a starting XI that could compete for the Premier League title?
Read on below and be the judge.
Saudi Pro League XI
Goalkeeper
- Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli Saudi)
The Senegalese was Chelsea's goalkeeper for three seasons prior to moing to Al-Ahli.
Defenders
- Alex Telles (Al Nassr)
- Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal)
- Roger Ibañez (Al-Ahli)
- Marcel Tisserand (Al-Ettifaq)
This quartet of defenders can boast recent stints at Manchester United, Roma, Wolfsburg and Chelsea among them.
Midfielders
- N'Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad)
- Rúben Neves (Al Hilal)
- Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli)
There are a lot of choices among the bigger names who have recently joined the league, but this trio seems like the right mix.
Forwards
- Neymar (Al Hilal)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
- Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
There are several younger options available, some of whom make more sense tactically, but it's hard not to include two Ballon d'Or winners and Brazil's joint all-time leading scorer.
Bench
- David Ospina (Al Nassr)
- Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq)
- Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli)
- Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli)
- Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq)
- Fabinho (Al-Ittihad)
- Sadio Mané (Al Nassr)
- Marcelo Brozović (Al Nassr)
- Allan Saint-Maximin (Al-Ahli)
DAZN customers in the UK and Ireland, Germany and Austria, Canada, and Belgium, as part of their subscription, will be able to watch three Saudi Pro League matches per week.