Saudi Arabia's rapid football expansion has taken another major step, with NEOM SC recording the single largest squad value increase anywhere in world football this summer.
According to new data from TransferRoom, the club's squad value rose by an extraordinary 1,054% during the transfer window.
At the beginning of the summer, NEOM's players were collectively valued at €7.4 million (£6.3m / $7.9m). By September, that figure had climbed to €85.4m (£72.4m / $91.5m), a gain of more than €78m (£66m / $83.6m) in just a few months.
This remarkable rise put NEOM ahead of all other clubs outside Europe in percentage growth, even surpassing established Saudi giants Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
Those clubs once again attracted global headlines with marquee moves, including Darwin Nunez's transfer from Liverpool to Al-Hilal, while AC Milan's Theo Hernandez also joined the Riyadh-based side.
Al-Nassr, meanwhile, strengthened their ranks with João Félix from Chelsea and Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich.
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Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Qadsiah FC registered the biggest absolute increase in squad value, climbing by €146m (£124m / $156m) to reach €259m (£220m / $277m).
NEOM's rapid growth is not only a reflection of targeted recruitment but also a clear sign of the club's long-term vision.
Their trajectory aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader sporting strategy, which continues to attract international stars, develop infrastructure and set new benchmarks for investment in the global game.
The rise also highlights the ambitions of the wider NEOM project in northwest Saudi Arabia, which includes plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium, world-class training facilities and the capacity to compete in major competitions such as the Club World Cup.