Cristiano Ronaldo Signs New Deal with Al Nassr, Extends Stay Until 2027
Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his stay at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until 2027, putting an end to weeks of speculation over his next move. The announcement was made by the club on Thursday via a post on X, accompanied by a teaser video showing the Portuguese star walking along a beach and declaring, “Al Nassr forever.”
Ronaldo’s decision to remain in Saudi Arabia comes two years after his headline-making move to the kingdom in 2023 — a deal reportedly worth $250 million. At the time, many believed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had traded football glory for an end-of-career payday. But his arrival instead ignited a wave of international players flocking to the Saudi Pro League, particularly those in the twilight of their careers.
Last month, the 40-year-old forward stirred speculation about his future after posting “This chapter is over” just hours after Al Nassr ended the season without a trophy, finishing third in the league.
Despite the club’s recent struggles, Ronaldo remains a central figure in the Saudi football project. A source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the oil-backed sovereign wealth fund that bankrolls Al Nassr and other major clubs such as Al Hilal and Al Ahli, described Ronaldo’s impact as transformative.
“Ronaldo’s presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league over the last two and a half years. He has opened the door for elite and young players to consider Saudi Arabia,” the PIF official told AFP.
While critics have drawn parallels between the Saudi football project and China’s now-defunct Super League — which collapsed under the weight of unsustainable spending — Saudi Arabia appears committed to a longer-term vision. With the 2034 FIFA World Cup on the horizon and ongoing efforts to reinvent the kingdom as a global destination for tourism and business, the Saudi Pro League is likely to remain in the spotlight.
Ronaldo’s extension signals the league’s continued ambition to attract and retain some of the sport’s biggest names as it positions itself on the global football map.