Saudi Arabia’s football elite use five-star luxury London hotel to conduct transfer business

The Hyatt Regency Hotel in London’s Portman Square has been a hive of football activity in recent days.

Known as The Churchill, the luxury five-star hotel, where rooms can set you back over £770 a night has played host to the likes of Barack Obama and is where Saudi Arabia’s football elite have been holding court to attract Premier League footballers.

The Saudi Arabia ministry of sport announced earlier this month that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) would take control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League: Al Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.

The latter are close to agreeing a deal for Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, Al-Hilal are pushing to sign Kalidou Koulibaly for £20million, after agreeing £47m for Wolves’ Ruben Neves on Sunday, while Al-Ittihad have snapped up 32-year-old N’Golo Kante on a four-year contract worth a cool £86m.

Koulibaly saw a loan move to Inter Milan dismissed by Chelsea last week. The defender has made 32 appearances for Chelsea since joining last year.

The Hyatt Regency Hotel in London has been a hive of football activity in recent days

Al-Hilal have also agreed a £47million move for Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves on Sunday

To boost Chelsea’s coffers even further, Al-Ahli believe they now have a deal in place to sign Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. 

That deal could prompt Chelsea to ask for Mike Maignan at AC Milan. 

There is much focus on moves to Saudi Arabia in the transfer market at present, with Karim Benzema having already joined Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid. 

Coaching staff like Brentford’s David Raya too but he is still expected to join Tottenham – if they can agree a price.