JEDDAH — The General Sports Authority Chairman Turki Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Asheikh announced that Saudi Football Professional League has been renamed as the Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman League for one exceptional season.

This was announced via satellite from Manhattan during the official celebration of the 2018-2019 season held here in Jeddah with the attendance of all new international players acquired by the 16 Saudi football clubs, coaches and Saudi and GCC media representatives.

Al-Asheikh Said: “This year, the Saudi Pro League will be the most luxurious and the best in the history of Saudi Arabia. This would not have been achieved without the support of our wise leadership and our main goal to be ranked among the top ten football leagues in the world.

The Saudi Pro League has increased the foreign-player quota to 8 players as part of radical changes to the league system announced by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

The new Saudi Pro League which is expected to kick off officially Thursday has escalated top league in the country, from 14 to 16 teams and winners will receive SR5 million ($1.3 million). The runners-up will get SR3 million and the third-place team SR2 million.