Transfers
Meet the billionaires behind Al-Hilal’s world record £259m bid for Mbappe
PSG have accepted a world record £259 million transfer fee from Al-Hilal for wantaway striker Kylian Mbappe.
The French giants are desperate for a sale this year to avoid Mbappe leaving Parc des Princes as a free agent next summer, and as such they have granted Al-Hilal permission to speak with the player.
However, the 24 year-old is said to be uninterested in a move to the Saudi Pro League and his preference is to hold out for Real Madrid in 2024.
Along with the transfer fee, the Saudi side have also reportedly offered Mbappe a jaw-dropping £604 million in wages for just a single season with the club.
So, who exactly are the owners behind the Al-Hilal mega-money offer and which players have they signed so far during the summer 2023 transfer window?
Here is everything you need to know.
Who owns Al-Hilal?
Al Hilal is under shared ownership, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) the majority owner with a 75% share.
The remaining 25% is controlled by the Al Hilal Non-Profit Foundation.
The PIV is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, and with total estimated assets of around £320 billion, it is one of the largest in the world.
It was set up in 1971 to invest money on behalf of the government, and has been controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, since 2015.
The PIF is playing a crucial part in Saudi’s strategy, named Vision 2030, to diversify the nation’s economy away from its dependence on oil.
The sovereign wealth fund bought Newcastle United for £300 million in October 2021, acquiring an 80% stake in the Premier League side with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan installed as the club’s chairman.
As well as taking control of Al-Hilal in June, the PIF also took a 75% stake in three of the other biggest teams in the Kingdom as it attempts to turbo boost the profile of the league; Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr.
Al-Hilal are the most decorated team in Asia, with 66 official honours to their name, including a record eight AFC Champions League titles.
Which players have Al-Hilal signed so far?
Ruben Neves ended his six-year stay at Wolves with a £47 million move to the club in June.
Aged just 26, the Portuguese midfielder’s transfer represented the first time that a player deemed to be in his prime has moved to the Saudi Pro League.
Neves is joined at Al-Hilal by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who swapped Champions League football with Lazio to move to the Middle East in a £34 million deal.
The hugely talented midfielder, 28, had been regularly linked with some of the biggest names in European football over the past few seasons.
Kalidou Koulibaly also now plys his trade in Riyadh following his £17 million move from Chelsea, where he spent a sole season having only signed from Napoli last year.
The squad also contains former West Brom player Matheus Pereira and ex-Porto striker Moussa Marega, although the duo are not currently registered to play.
Former Benfica and Sporting winger Andre Carrillo has been with Al-Hilal since 2018.
Premier League
Luis Saha Warns Manchester United Over Potential Adam Wharton Signing
Former Manchester United forward Luis Saha has advised caution regarding the club’s reported interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, warning that the young English star could come with a hefty price tag.
Manchester United’s Interest
The Red Devils are in the market for a combative midfielder. Last summer, they pursued Carlos Baleba but failed to secure the transfer, with Brighton reportedly demanding over £100 million. Reports suggest Manchester United have since turned their attention to Wharton, with manager Ruben Amorim being a big admirer of the Palace talent.
Wharton’s steady rise in the Premier League has caught the eye of top clubs, but Saha believes that the hype around young players can lead to inflated transfer valuations.
Saha’s Warning
Speaking to OLG, Saha urged the Red Devils to be prudent in their approach:
“I think Adam Wharton is a young lad. I do think that sometimes you have to be careful with those big signings. I consider this new market to be extremely dangerous for clubs because you can see the hype that goes up and then you’re left surprised.
“It took a bit of time for Moises Caicedo to settle at Chelsea as well, so there are big signings and sometimes the expectations are too high. You have to really read under the lines and that’s not easy. People can throw big numbers. The agents are very pleased with that. I am not a big fan of this.”
Saha’s caution highlights the challenges Premier League clubs face when chasing young talents in today’s inflated transfer market.
Stay tuned to Sports Market International for the latest updates on Manchester United transfer news and Premier League developments.
Premier League
Man Utd Weighing Up €60m Move For Stuttgart Star Angelo Stiller After Years Of Scouting
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Stuttgart and Germany international midfielder Angelo Stiller, valued at around €60 million ($53m).
According to reports, Stiller is part of a six-man shortlist prepared by manager Ruben Amorim, who is keen to strengthen the team’s midfield following a turbulent 2024–25 campaign that saw the Red Devils finish 15th in the Premier League without a trophy.
Amorim’s Midfield Mission
Amorim had previously targeted Brighton’s Carlos Baleba in the last transfer window, but the deal failed to materialize. United’s management, led by director of football Jason Wilcox, has now reignited long-standing interest in Stiller.
Wilcox has reportedly tracked the 23-year-old midfielder for years, pushing internally for the club to make a move. Stiller’s current contract with Stuttgart runs until 2028, but the Bundesliga side plan to buy out his €2m release clause, setting his valuation between €50m and €60m (£44m–£53m).
Deal More Likely In Summer 2026
While Amorim is eager to strengthen the midfield immediately, any move for Stiller is unlikely to happen in January. United are expected to delay negotiations until next summer, given their recent heavy spending and ongoing financial balancing efforts.
Wharton Cool On Transfer Talk
Another name on United’s radar, Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, has downplayed recent transfer rumours linking him to Old Trafford. Speaking to The Athletic, Wharton said:
“I don’t really look into it or think too much about it… United and the big teams are linked to 10 or 20 different players. If I’m one of 20, then it’s nothing special.”
For now, Manchester United’s transfer radar remains active, but Angelo Stiller has clearly emerged as a priority long-term target — a player the club sees as the key to rebuilding their midfield engine.
At Sports Market International, we continue tracking the biggest football market trends and transfer stories — keeping you ahead in the global sports conversation.
Premier League
Swedish Wonderkid Kevin Filling Responds To Manchester United & Aston Villa Links: “I Don’t Know Anything!”
Swedish Wonderkid Kevin Filling Responds To Manchester United & Aston Villa Links: “I Don’t Know Anything!”
At just 16 years old, Kevin Filling is already attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs — but the Swedish prodigy insists he’s not letting the hype get to him.
The AIK Fotboll forward, who’s being closely monitored by Manchester United and Aston Villa, says he’s focused on developing his game in Stockholm rather than worrying about transfer rumours.
“It’s nothing special. I don’t know much. I’m focused on AIK and that’s where all my focus lies,” Filling told Expressen. “To take a starting place in the team and do as well as I can in every match and every chance I get — that’s my goal.”
United & Villa Eye Sweden’s Next Big Thing
According to reports from FotbollDirekt, both Manchester United and Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch the teenage striker, who’s impressed in the Allsvenskan this season with two goals in just 204 minutes of action.
AIK reportedly value Filling at around €5 million, while both English clubs are said to be preparing offers in the region of €3 million. Despite the early negotiations, any move would not take effect until November 2026, when Filling turns 18, due to FIFA transfer regulations.
Even with that restriction, interest in the young Swede is growing rapidly. Scouts describe him as “focused, humble, and analytical”, with a composure in front of goal that belies his age.
The Making Of Kevin Filling
Born in November 2008, Filling’s journey began at IK Franke and Västerås, before joining AIK’s youth academy in 2023. Within months, his sharp finishing and maturity earned him a senior debut — and he made it count, scoring in a 3-0 win over IFK Göteborg.
Since then, he’s earned a reputation for:
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Calmness under pressure
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Excellent positional play
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A clean disciplinary record
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Consistency over hype
AIK coaches praise his “instinctive finishing and calmness beyond his years”, while analysts point out that his style reflects football’s modern evolution — favouring intelligent, tactical forwards over purely physical strikers.
Staying Grounded Amid The Buzz
While comparisons to other teenage sensations are already emerging, Filling remains admirably grounded.
“I don’t know anything, so no, I’m not thinking about it that much,” he said when pressed on the transfer rumours.
With AIK sitting fourth in the Allsvenskan, Filling’s focus is on maintaining form and earning a permanent starting spot. His humility and mindset might just be what sets him apart in a football world often swept up by early fame.
Sports Market Insight
At Sports Market International, we spotlight the stories shaping the future of sports — from rising stars like Kevin Filling to the evolving dynamics of football markets and youth development.
If he continues on this path, Kevin Filling might just be the next big export from Sweden to the Premier League.
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