Saudi Wealth Fund Sells Majority Stake in Al-Hilal Football Club

email: online@newsofbahrain.com 

Riyadh: Public Investment Fund on Thursday announced the sale of its majority stake in Al-Hilal, one of the leading teams in the Saudi Pro League.

The fund sold 70 percent of the Riyadh-based club to Kingdom Holding Company, controlled by billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The transaction values Al-Hilal’s share capital at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals (around $373 million).

Al-Hilal currently features French striker Karim Benzema, who recently joined the club after leaving Al-Ittihad.

Prince Alwaleed said the acquisition reflected confidence in sport as a force for unity and national development, while pledging to preserve the club’s identity and history.

The Public Investment Fund, overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had acquired a controlling stake in Al-Hilal in 2023 along with three other Saudi clubs, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader sports investment strategy.

That financial backing helped Al-Hilal attract global stars including Neymar, who left the club in January 2025.

PIF said the sale aligns with its strategy to maximise returns and redeploy capital into the domestic economy, while adding it would remain a shareholder and continue supporting the club’s future growth.