Saudi fourth tier football league offering new players '$4,000 a week and a house'

Saudi Arabia is offering players thousands of dollars a week to play football in the kingdom's fourth-flight domestic league, according to reports.

Following on from the huge money dished out by the top-flight Saudi Pro League, the Third Division -  the fourth level in the Saudi football pyramid - appears to be actively recruiting players with huge enticements to play for the kingdom's lower league.

Players could get as much $2oo,000 a year and a home for competing in a league that includes relative minnows in Saudi football such as Al-Ula, Al-Omran and Al-Houra. 

A Spanish-language post on the Futbol Jobs website apparently issued by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) accompanied by an image of the Saudi Arabian National Team crest.said: "Urgently needed for Saudi Third League. Salary: $3,000 to $4,000 + housing/home. Ready, free players needed

"Forward, left back + right back, playmaker, midfield anchor, central defender. Active players ready for a challenge."

The New Arab could not verify the authenticity of the post and has approached the SAFF for comment.

The money would be slightly more than the average salaries made by footballers in the English fourth-tier league - Football League Two - roughly £2,000 a week. However, the standard of football in the Saudi Third Division is considered much lower than in its English counterpart.

The Spanish-language post would likely appeal to footballers in South America, which have thriving domestic leagues but much lower pay than in Europe. The vast majority of players in the Saudi Third Division are Saudi nationals with some African and Arab athletes also competing.

The Saudi Third Division was formed in 2021 and includes 32 teams, divided into four regional leagues with the group winners guaranteed a place in the Second Division and runners-up entering a play-off with a chance of promotion.

The top-flight Saudi Pro League has spent millions on attracting some of the biggest names in football, from players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to managers including Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

Al-Hilal have offered a whopping $310 million bid to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain according to reports on Monday.

The French international is reportedly being enticed with a $776 million pay packet, by far the biggest amount paid to any footballer.

Much of the spending splurge has been financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PFI) which also owns Newcastle United.