Ruben Neves, the talented captain of Wolves, has touched down in Riyadh to finalize his transfer to Al-Hilal, a Saudi Pro League team.
The club’s decision to sell Neves to a Saudi Arabian side has resulted in a groundbreaking deal worth a staggering £47 million, setting a new record.
Despite attracting interest from various European clubs, the 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder made the choice to join Al-Hilal, securing Wolves a substantial fee of around £45 million.
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Neves follows in the footsteps of renowned players like Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have recently made moves to Saudi Arabian clubs.
This transfer fee paid by Al-Hilal surpasses Wolves’ previous record when they sold Diogo Jota to Liverpool for £41 million in 2020.
It also stands as the highest-ever fee paid by a Saudi Pro League team, significantly surpassing the reported £15.4 million deal that brought Matheus Pereira from West Brom to Al-Hilal in 2021.
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Expressing his gratitude in an open letter to the club’s supporters, Neves described his time at Wolves as an “unbelievable journey.”
Having received interest from Barcelona at the end of last season, Neves expressed his ambition. However, with the La Liga champions failing to present an acceptable offer, Neves opted for a move to Saudi Arabia.
During his tenure at the West Midlands club, Neves made 253 appearances and netted 30 goals after joining from Porto in 2017.
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His contributions were instrumental in Wolves’ promotion from the Championship in the 2017-18 season, followed by their establishment in the Premier League.
