Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino heads to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ahli #Liverpool #Roberto #Firmino #heads #Saudi #Arabia #join #AlAhli

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Roberto Firmino signed for Al-Ahli on Tuesday to become the latest star to head to Saudi Arabia’s lucrative Pro League.

The Brazil striker left Liverpool at the end of last season after a trophy-filled eight-year spell, which saw him lift every major club title.

Now, at the age of 31, he will join a host of other top soccer stars in Saudi Arabia as the oil-rich kingdom embarks on a spectacular attempt to raise the profile of its league.

FILE - Chelsea's Mason Mount reacts after his team lost the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. Mason Mount has bid an emotional farewell to Chelsea fans as the England international closes in on a move to Manchester United. Mount was a graduate of Chelsea’s famed academy and spent 18 years at the London club. Now he is about to join its Premier League rival United in a deal worth 55 million pounds ($69 million) and is set to sign a five-year contract. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File)

Mason Mount has bid an emotional farewell to Chelsea fans as the England international closes in on a move to Manchester United.

Switzerland's Seereina Piubel, left and Iman Beney celebrate during the soccer match between Switzerland and Zambia, at the Tissot Arena in Biel, Switzerland, Friday June 30, 2023. (Marcel Bieri/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland’s 16-year-old midfielder Iman Beney will miss the Women’s World Cup with a knee injury. The Swiss soccer federation says Beney ruptured a knee ligament in training, one day after being selected in the Swiss squad.

British soccer player Ruben Loftus-Cheek waves as he arrives for fitness tests at the Italian soccer club AC Milan in Milano, Italy, Thursday, June 29, 2023. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is looking forward to his debut for AC Milan at the San Siro. The English midfielder recently signed a four-year deal with Milan following a transfer from Chelsea that was reportedly worth 16 million euros ($17.5 million).

FILE - Ireland's Heather Payne (14) kicks the ball away from United States' Sophia Smith (11) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

The Women’s World Cup will be a showcase for some of the best young soccer players in the game. Two of them play for the United States.

“I always played for big teams, now I am in Al-Ahli,” Firmino said in a video posted on Twitter by the club to announce his signing.

Al-Ahli, based in Jeddah, has already signed former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy this offseason.

It is one of four teams that recently came under the ownership of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund.

Other Saudi Pro League teams have secured star signings such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marcelo Brozovic. Cristiano Ronaldo started the trend when he joined Al-Nassr in January.

Firmino won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and English League Cup with Liverpool. Other titles included the Club World Cup and European Super Cup.

With Brazil he won the Copa America in 2019.

Al-Ahli did not say how long Firmino’s contract would run for.