Saudi Pro League
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and grabbed an assist on his debut for Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal as they thrashed lowly Al-Akhdoud 6-0 on Thursday.
Al-Nassr maintained their perfect start to the season with their fourth consecutive league victory, and top the standings with 12 points. Al-Ittihad dropped to second after suffering their first defeat of the season.
France forward Kingsley Coman has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a three-year deal, the two clubs said on Friday.
Ivan Toney said he never had any doubts about his chances of an England recall following his move to the Saudi Pro League after the free-scoring Al-Ahli striker returned to the squad ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
The Saudi club said that the 49-year-old Italian had penned a two-year contract, with the signing taking place in Paris.
The former Paris St Germain player joins fellow France internationals Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante at the Jeddah-based club, who hired Frenchman Laurent Blanc as head coach earlier this month.
The former Manchester United and England striker, who previously coached DC United and Derby County, was appointed Birmingham manager on Wednesday with the club lying sixth in the second-tier Championship.
The clubs did not disclose any details but British media said Steven Gerrard's side paid a transfer fee of eight million pounds ($9.98 million), with Gray signing a four-year deal.
"The Atlantic lion is our goalie," Al-Hilal posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts.
The former Liverpool forward scored twice in the opening 10 minutes before another strike in the 72nd for his treble sealed the three points for the newly-promoted team.
The 38-year-old ended up with 14 goals in 16 matches, having played every minute of every league game barring a 1-1 draw with Al-Ettifaq last month, when he was taken off in the 84th minute, and Wednesday's final match.
"I am sure that in the coming years the league will be ... the fourth, fifth or sixth most competitive league in the world," added Ronaldo, who moved to Al-Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract worth a reported 200 million euros ($214.71 million).
