The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has been making significant strides in its international expansion efforts. The latest development is the appointment of Leonard Soler Batet, former head of international media rights at Spanish soccer's top-tier LaLiga, to a similar role within the SPL.
Batet, who spent eight years at LaLiga and served as the head of international media rights for three years, announced his new position on LinkedIn. He expressed his excitement to join the SPL and help drive its global growth while laying a foundation for it to become one of the top leagues in sports.
Before joining LaLiga in 2017 as a sports media rights manager, Batet worked with renowned brands such as PepsiCo and Unilever. His rise within LaLiga saw him heading up their international media rights division by April 2022.
Global expansion efforts of SPL
In recent years, the SPL has been relentless in its pursuit to expand internationally. This effort is evident through various initiatives. The Saudi Pro League has been making notable strides in its international expansion through various initiatives. These include attracting worldwide stars such as the Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo, launching a Netflix series titled "Saudi Pro League: Kickoff", and striking numerous commercial deals with global brands.
The league’s matches were broadcasted throughout 165 countries on 43 platforms during the 2024-25 season alone.
Heavyweight sports marketing agency IMG holds international broadcast distribution rights for two seasons and also has a production deal until 2028-29. Prominent broadcasters such as Canal Plus (France), DAZN (five territories), Fox (US & Caribbean), Okko (Russia), Tencent (China), and SportyTV (Nigeria & Ghana) have SPL coverage deals. Domestically, the league is broadcasted live by Saudi Sports Company.
Spanish executives in SPL
Batet's move to the SPL isn't an isolated incident. Jesús Arroyo, formerly deputy general manager at LaLiga club Sevilla, now serves as an advisor to Omar Mugharbel, the SPL's chief executive.
In December, LaLiga opened an office within the SPL's headquarters in Riyadh. This move further solidifies ties between LaLiga and Saudi Arabia, which also includes a three-season partnership between the Spanish league and Riyadh Season sporting brand.
The appointment of Batet is a significant step for the Saudi Pro League in its international expansion journey. His experience and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to establishing it as one of the top leagues globally.
