Premier League: Newcastle United ready to loan Saudi Pro League players after vote

Newcastle will be allowed to sign players on loan from the Saudi Pro League in January after a vote by Premier League clubs on a temporary ban on related-party loans failed to receive the support required to be introduced.

This was one figure less than the total number needed for this project to be implemented.

The Premier League appears to be in favor of introducing this ban.

This means that Newcastle United, for example, could sign players from clubs also owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Newcastle, whose £305m Saudi-backed buyout was completed in October 2021, have been linked to the transfer of former Wolves captain Ruben Neves from Saudi side Al-Hilal.

The ban was proposed as a temporary measure until a concrete solution could be agreed before the summer transfer window.

It was to apply only to incoming loans, not outgoing loans.

PIF, which provided 80% of the funds for the Newcastle takeover, took over four of the main Saudi clubs In June – Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.

When asked in November if he would consider signing players from Saudi Arabia if it was allowed, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he was “open to signing anyone if they is pretty good.”

Other prominent former top players currently at PIF-owned clubs include Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli), Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr) and Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) .

But it is a potential January move for Neves, 26 – who joined Al-Hilal for £47m in June – who could help the Magpies fill the midfield void created by 10-month ban on Sandro Tonali for breaking betting rules.

The PIF, which is led by Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has assets of £250 billion, making Newcastle one of the richest clubs in the world.