Contrary to major European leagues and many more, Qatar’s transfer market is still open and could see a few more incomings.
Qatar Stars League clubs have spent $91.7 million (about QAR 333.8 million) on incoming players during the 2025 summer transfer window so far, according to the latest figures released by football’s global governing body.
Of more than 12,000 international transfers completed in men’s football, 100 involved a Qatari club. The figure will likely rise as the summer window remains open in the Gulf nation with its clubs scrambling to fill in the last remaining slots.
Some 74 players have made their way to Doha since June 1, FIFA said, marking a significant rise compared to last summer’s tally of 38. It is also on par with 2023’s window, the biggest in recent years, with two incoming transfers listed as pending in the database.
However, the total value for players leaving the league was not available in the database.
The window, described by FIFA as one with “unprecedented levels of activity and expenditure”, saw transfer fees in men’s football reach the highest-ever figures of $9.76 billion (about QAR 35.5 billion). It is an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
While the global surge was dominated by English clubs’ spending spree, which amounted to almost one-third of the total, the increase in Qatar is partly due to the extension of the foreign player quota.
Qatari top-division sides can now register up to 10 foreign players on their 28-player roster, in a move understood to be aimed at bolstering Qatari sides’ chances in Asia amidst the Saudi Arabian investment surge.
As a result, clubs beyond the typical heavy spenders managed to rope in high-profile players, which included Al Arabi’s signing of Pablo Sarabia and Alex Collado‘s move to Al Shamal. Only Asia-bound sides were granted permission to exceed the league’s previous foreign quota of seven players last season.
However, bigger clubs continued to dominate the spreadsheets. Eight of the league’s ten most expensive signings of the window came from Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al Rayyan.
According to online football database Transfermarkt, Al Duhail’s signing of Brazilian centre-back Tuta and Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek were the most expensive signings of the window, followed by Al Rayyan’s new winger Wesley. Both clubs were seeking to rebuild following a flurry of outgoings last season.
Roberto Firmino, perhaps the most high-profile and the latest in defending champions Al Sadd’s flurry of stellar signings, was valued at about QAR 29.8 million.
Similarly, midfielder Jassem Jaber’s move from Al Arabi to Al Rayyan totalled QAR 10.2 million, making him the most expensive Qatari player to move during the summer, according to Transfermarkt’s list.
Neither of the respective clubs nor the Qatar Stars League, however, has disclosed the transfer fees.
According to FIFA’s database, 11 Spanish players made the move to Qatar — the most of any nationality, followed by Portuguese, French, Bulgarian and Tunisian footballers.
