Benjamin Sesko Tops Al-Hilal Wishlist as Arsenal Pivot

Benjamin Sesko is at the centre of a fresh transfer tug-of-war after Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal identified the RB Leipzig striker as their preferred No.9 for the summer window. Sources close to the Riyadh club confirm initial discussions have begun over a package that could match Leipzig’s £77 million valuation and tempt the 20-year-old Slovenian into joining the rapidly expanding Saudi Pro League.

Why Al-Hilal Want Benjamin Sesko

Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus has made a dynamic, mobile striker his primary target for 2024/25. After securing Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrović and Sergej Milinković-Savić last year, the board now wants a forward who can stretch defences and press from the front. Benjamin Sesko, whose 6ft 5in frame belies explosive pace, ticks every box. Scouts have highlighted his 34 km/h top speed, aerial dominance and willingness to drop deep—traits that would complement Mitrović or even allow Jesus to switch to a twin-striker system.

The Saudi Pro League’s New Transfer Strategy

The ministry-backed investment fund (PIF) is no longer solely targeting players in their late twenties or early thirties. Instead, directors are focusing on talents under 25 who can grow the league’s global profile over multiple seasons. Bringing in Benjamin Sesko, one of Europe’s most-watched youngsters, fits this revised blueprint perfectly and would send another statement of intent to UEFA clubs.

Arsenal Redirects Attention to Viktor Gyökeres

With Folarin Balogun sold and Eddie Nketiah’s future uncertain, Arsenal spent months compiling dossiers on Benjamin Sesko. However, internal reviews concluded that Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres, already familiar with English football from his Coventry spell, represents a more Premier League-ready option for Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have made preliminary contact with Sporting over a fee that could rise to £86 million, triggering Gyökeres’s release clause if instalment structures are accepted.

Leipzig’s £77m Stance Remains Firm

RB Leipzig’s model depends on selling high, yet sporting director Rouven Schröder insists the club will only negotiate from a position of strength. Sesko’s contract runs until 2028, contains no formal release clause for 2024 and rewards the striker handsomely through performance bonuses. Leipzig believe they can keep him for at least another season unless an extraordinary offer—likely north of £77 million up front—arrives. Al-Hilal’s vast resources mean that financial hurdle is surmountable, whereas Arsenal must prioritise balancing UEFA’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

What Makes Sesko a Perfect Fit for Riyadh?

Beyond the marketing allure, coaches view Sesko as a rare blend of Erling Haaland-like physicality and Robert Lewandowski-style link play. His expected-goals (xG) per 90 minutes stands at 0.61, higher than any current Al-Hilal striker, and he converts one in three headed chances. In Saudi Arabia, where defensive blocks sit deeper, a striker capable of attacking early crosses and long diagonals is invaluable. Benjamin Sesko’s quick acceleration also allows him to break the offside trap, a tactic Al-Hilal used to devastating effect during their AFC Champions League run.

Tactical Analysis

Jesus favours a 4-2-3-1, demanding the lone striker press aggressively then drop to create central overloads. Sesko averaged 20 pressures per game in the Bundesliga, nearly double Mitrović’s current rate, and his 84% short-pass accuracy suggests he can knit play with Neymar and Malcom between the lines. Stat-based analytics firm SciSports ranks Sesko in the 92nd percentile for “space creation” among Europe’s U23 forwards, reinforcing the coaches’ belief that he would slot seamlessly into Al-Hilal’s fluid attacking carousel.

Potential Obstacles and Timelines

Negotiations hinge on three factors: Leipzig’s willingness to accept staggered payments, the player’s openness to leaving European competition at such an early age, and FIFA approval of salary structures that may exceed £350,000 per week. Al-Hilal hope to finalise personal terms by mid-June so Sesko can join pre-season in Austria. Leipzig will push for a resolution before their July training camp; otherwise, the Red Bull hierarchy is prepared to end talks and revisit the market in 2025.

Player Perspective

Close confidants say Sesko dreams of testing himself in the Premier League or La Liga. Yet he is intrigued by the opportunity to spearhead a star-studded project, and the prospect of working alongside Neymar is particularly tempting. Lifestyle considerations are less daunting now that Al-Hilal offers a European-style performance centre, international-school access and private flight arrangements that ease travel back to Slovenia.

Verdict: A Transfer That Could Redefine the Market

If Benjamin Sesko swaps Saxony for Saudi, he would become the youngest marquee signing of the PIF era and could shift perceptions of the league from semi-retirement destination to genuine alternative for elite prospects. For Arsenal, missing out would underline the growing financial gulf between Europe’s traditional powers and their Middle Eastern counterparts. Neutral observers will watch closely: can a 20-year-old talent resist Champions League nights for a lucrative desert adventure?

Opinion: While the money on offer is eye-watering, Sesko’s career trajectory might benefit more from another two years in Leipzig or a measured step to the Premier League. Yet football is increasingly global, and if the Saudi Pro League sustains its investment, joining Al-Hilal could prove visionary rather than premature.