Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Nears Massive $2 Billion Al Hilal Takeover

Rabat – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is close to completing the purchase of Al Hilal football club, with an official announcement expected before the end of December.

Negotiations have been ongoing for nearly a year between Prince Alwaleed and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which currently owns 75% of Al Hilal. 

The remaining 25% is held by a non-profit organization that already receives significant funding from Prince Alwaleed. The deal is valued at around SAR 7.5 billion (USD 2 billion), making it one of the largest transactions in Saudi sports history.

If finalized, this would mark the first full private acquisition of a major Saudi football club under the Kingdom’s sports privatization program. 

The initiative, launched in 2023, aims to attract private investment, improve club management, and boost the competitiveness of Saudi football globally.

While Al Hilal’s sale is nearing completion, other clubs are moving more slowly. Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli remain under PIF ownership, with negotiations involving multiple investors expected to take months. 

Al Shabab and Al Ettifaq are even further behind, with talks unlikely to conclude before late 2026.

Al Hilal, based in Riyadh, is Saudi Arabia’s most decorated club, with 19 league titles and four AFC Champions League trophies. 

The acquisition would give Prince Alwaleed full control of a team that has become a symbol of Saudi football dominance, both domestically and in Asia.

The deal reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader push to privatize sports and attract global attention, especially after the country’s heavy investment in football through player transfers and sponsorships. 

For Al Hilal fans, the move could mean more financial stability and ambitious projects, though ticket prices and club policies may change under private ownership.