Saudi Pro League eyes global TV deal ahead of 2023-24 season | OneFootball

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) are looking to secure international broadcast deals with IMG ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, according to The Athletic.

The Saudis want to capitalise on their growing popularity in the European space by ensuring their football is made available to fans across the globe as part of their growth strategy.

IMG are the Premier League’s international production partner. They produce and distribute all 380 matches a season to broadcasters and rights holders across the world.

They are crucial to the Premier League’s success across the globe, and SPL are now looking to secure a deal to attract more viewership to Saudi football.

SPL have instructed IMG to secure international broadcast deals for the next two years, and the timing of their association aligns with plans to lure several high-profile Europe-based players to the Middle East.

Both parties worked together earlier this year after Cristiano Ronaldo became the first high-profile player to head to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al Nassr from Manchester United in January.

The 38-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the 2019 Saudi champions worth around £177 million a year. His staggering move opened the floodgates for more players to ditch Europe for the Middle East.

Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly have already joined the Portuguese superstar in Saudi Arabia this summer.

Benzema and Kante joined last season’s SPL champions Al-Ittihad where they will be coached by former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Neves and Koulibaly joined Al-Hilal, who are still looking for more high-profile deals. They were interested in Lionel Messi, but the former Paris Saint-Germain superstar opted to join Major League Soccer club Inter Miami instead.

Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva is the latest high-value target linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

However, the treble winner reportedly wants to remain in Europe amid interest from Barcelona and PSG.