“I just started laughing.”: How a Saudi club’s 100x salary offer stunned a 20-year-old Dutch footballer

At just 20, Matteo Dams was in the middle of contract extension talks with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Then came a phone call that altered everything: a €10 million offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, backed by eye-watering wages, instant first-team football, and a continental title by season’s end.

Now 21, Dams reflects on a decision that turned heads across Europe, and proved impossible to refuse.

From PSV’s left flank to Al Ahli’s title run

When Dams made his senior debut for PSV in August 2024, few could have predicted that his first full professional season would be split between the Eredivisie and Saudi Arabia’s Pro League. After racking up 24 appearances, 19 of them starts, for the Dutch giants, he found himself the subject of a surprise January transfer push by Al Ahli. The Saudi club paid €10 million to sign him, capitalising on the final six months of his PSV contract. Dams was already in discussions to extend his stay in Eindhoven when Al Ahli came in with an aggressive offer and the intent to seal the deal immediately, not in the summer, but within a matter of days. By season's end, he had featured 15 times across all competitions for Al Ahli, helping the club secure the 2024–25 AFC Champions League title.

His contributions included one assist and seven clean sheets, quickly justifying the investment in both tactical and financial terms.

The financial reality: A 100-fold pay rise

Reports from the Netherlands indicated that Dams’ monthly salary jumped from €2,500 at PSV to around €250,000 at Al Ahli, a staggering leap for any player, let alone a 20-year-old full-back in his first season of senior football. Speaking to HLN, Dams acknowledged the scale of the financial offer, admitting that it left him in disbelief:“I just started laughing. Because those were ridiculously high amounts for a 20-year-old. Not just for a 20-year-old.” He also made it clear that while the money was part of the draw, it wasn’t the only reason he said yes.

The decisive factor, he explained, was how committed Al Ahli were to bringing him in, and how quickly.“Honestly? I was already convinced after the phone call with Jorik [Benoit, his agent]. Obviously, because I knew what I could earn in Saudi Arabia, but also because Al Ahli really wanted me. I felt that immediately, and I thought that was very important. The coach was completely behind my arrival.”

From skepticism to certainty, and silverware

Initially, Dams had ruled out the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia, especially so early in his career. He feared the perception such a move might carry, that he was chasing money, giving up on top-level football, or stepping into a less competitive environment.“You know the prejudices: that I'd choose the money, that I'd throw my career away, that the level here is terrible,” he said. But the decisive factors outweighed the doubts. Al Ahli didn’t just want him, they had a clear plan for him. And in Dams’ mind, the only opinion that really mattered was his own:“In the end, it was me who had to come here to play football, so I had to be completely committed to my decision.” That decision was quickly validated on the pitch. Al Ahli’s push for the AFC Champions League culminated in triumph, with Dams playing a meaningful role in the club’s defensive solidity during the latter half of the season.Dams also spoke confidently about the level of the Saudi league. "People think the Saudi league is weak, but having played there, I don’t think that's true. I don't believe I've thrown away my career," he emphasized.

Al Ahli’s youth revolution, and Dams at the centre

Unlike some of the other Saudi Pro League clubs who have gone all in on marquee superstars, Al Ahli’s approach has been notably different: investing in Europe’s emerging talent. In the same recruitment window, they secured the signatures of:

All three, like Dams, are under 23, and all are seen as long-term assets in a fast-developing league. The locker room culture at Al Ahli has also surprised Dams. Despite the scale of contracts in Saudi football, money rarely comes up in day-to-day squad life.“I never discuss amounts. I understand why people ask the question; I would have been curious too if one of my friends went to Saudi Arabia. But actually, the questions about that aren't that bad. It's rarely, if ever, discussed in the locker room. Take Riyadh Mahrez, for example. Of course, all his teammates know he earns an incredible amount of money, but it's never discussed.”

A young career, a big decision, and no regrets (so far)

At just 21, Matteo Dams has already made one of the most consequential decisions of his professional life, leaving a European title-chasing club for a Saudi side in the middle of its transformation. Yet within months, he found himself lifting the biggest trophy in Asian club football. He’s aware of the criticisms and outside commentary, but for Dams, the decision made sense on all levels: sporting, personal, and financial. He didn’t just chase a salary, he followed an opportunity that asked for immediate trust and delivered immediate rewards.