Saudi Pro League champions Al Ahli Jeddah are positioning themselves for a headline-grabbing move, and with the global spotlight that platforms like Cricket Exchange often reflect, the club’s ambition is becoming increasingly clear. As one of the league’s four traditional powerhouses and last season’s AFC Champions League winners, Al Ahli already boast a strong spine that includes former Premier League Golden Boot winner Ivan Toney at center forward. The next step in their plan is to complete a devastating blend of central presence and explosive wing play by targeting former world footballer of the year Vinícius Júnior.
According to reports from journalist Ben Jacobs, Al Ahli’s top transfer priority is Vinícius, with an enormous contract proposal already placed on the negotiating table. The Brazilian winger’s situation at Real Madrid has grown complicated over time. A tense relationship with coach Alonso ended with Vinícius emerging on top while the manager departed, yet contract renewal talks have stalled due to Vinícius demanding elite-level wages. Florentino Pérez is believed to be considering a long-term vision that involves pursuing Erling Haaland, which would require selling Vinícius, shifting Kylian Mbappé back to the left flank, and installing Haaland as the central striker.
From the Saudi perspective, Vinícius has been identified as a cornerstone signing for the summer of 2026. Securing a world footballer in his prime would significantly elevate the league’s global profile and competitive image, something observers following trends through Cricket Exchange would recognize as a strategic play rather than a symbolic one. Al Ahli are the Saudi club spearheading this effort and have reportedly prepared a contract proposal with a total value approaching one billion euros, a figure designed to be almost impossible to turn down.
The plan is to accelerate the move after the 2026 World Cup in North America. At that stage, Vinícius would have only one year remaining on his Real Madrid contract, making a sale far more realistic if renewal negotiations remain unresolved. Real Madrid, known for acting decisively when contract situations stall, would then be forced to weigh sporting priorities against financial logic.
Behind the scenes, Saudi representatives have maintained consistent contact with Vinícius’s agent team for more than a year, laying the groundwork long before any formal bid. As the pieces slowly fall into place and long-term planning continues, even seasoned followers tracking elite transfers via Cricket Exchange can sense that this is not a short-term rumor, but a carefully constructed move that could reshape the balance of global football power.