Al Hilal have opened talks to sign France star Ousmane Dembele from Paris Saint-Germain in what would be one of the most dramatic transfers of the Saudi Pro League era.
The Riyadh club, who have already agreed a deal to bring in Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United, are now pushing to add the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner to an already star‐studded squad.
Reports in Europe say Summerville is set to join Al Hilal this summer for €80m, a fee that would make him the second-most expensive player in Saudi football history. But that deal now appears to be only the first step in a wider attacking overhaul.
Talks under way with Dembele camp
Italian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that Al Hilal have identified Dembele as their next major target in the current transfer window and have already initiated contact.
According to Tavolieri, the Saudi champions have begun dialogue with the French winger’s representatives in a bid to secure their approval before entering formal negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain.
He reported that Al Hilal are seeking “the green light” from the player’s camp before moving to an official bid stage with the French champions.
PSG keen to extend Ballon d’Or winner
The approach comes at a time when PSG are attempting to extend Dembele’s stay in the French capital.
The 27-year-old, whose current contract runs until 2028, is viewed by the Paris club as a central figure in their long-term project after a series of standout seasons.
Dembele has been instrumental in PSG’s recent dominance in Europe, leading the club to back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles. His performances in those campaigns earned him the 2025 Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player.
Despite PSG’s determination to keep him and reward him with a renewed deal, Al Hilal’s financial power and growing global profile present a significant challenge to the French side’s plans.
World Cup star power
Dembele has also shone on the international stage with France. At the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, he featured in all eight of his country’s matches.
Across the tournament he scored six goals and provided two assists, underlining his status as one of the most decisive wide forwards in the game.
His combination of pace, dribbling and end product has made him one of the most coveted attacking players in world football and a marquee name for any league seeking to enhance its visibility.
Al Hilal’s escalating ambition
The move for Dembele underscores Al Hilal’s ambition to remain at the forefront of the Saudi Pro League’s rapid expansion and global push.
Having already invested heavily in recent windows and now closing in on Summerville for a record fee, the Riyadh giants appear intent on assembling one of the most formidable forward lines outside Europe’s traditional elite.
If they succeed in prising Dembele away from PSG, it would mark another significant moment in the shifting balance of power in world football and further intensify scrutiny on the Saudi league’s growing influence in the global transfer market.
