Saudi Pro League Prepares for Winter Transfer Window

 The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
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Saudi Pro League Prepares for Winter Transfer Window

 The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has announced its preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 winter transfer window to run from January 1 to January 30, 2025, underscoring the league’s commitment to supporting clubs by facilitating player transfers, improving governance and planning, ensuring player welfare, and enhancing financial sustainability.
In a statement, the SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives. The league plans to support clubs in ensuring continued success for their players, including facilitating transfers among local clubs, SPA reported.
The statement also noted that following the decision to allow ROSHN League clubs to sign non-Saudi players under the age of 21, clubs utilized 16 players during the last summer transfer window out of the 36 available slots for the league’s 18 clubs. Thirteen clubs signed at least one player in this age category, while five clubs made no signings. The opportunity remains for some clubs to enhance their squads with players in this age group.
Additionally, the SPL revealed that all ROSHN League clubs reached the maximum allowance of eight foreign players above 21 years old by the end of the summer transfer window. New signings during the upcoming winter window will only be permitted if clubs terminate or sell contracts of currently registered players. The SPL stressed its cooperation with clubs and the Financial Sustainability Committee to facilitate these adjustments while ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
Regarding notable outcomes of the 2024-2025 ROSHN League season following the summer transfer window, the SPL reported a decrease in the average player age from 27.6 years to 26.2 years. A total of 115 local players were registered, while 132 local players departed due to contract expirations, sales, or cancellations. Meanwhile, 101 foreign players joined through new contracts, compared to 32 foreign players who exited due to contract expirations, sales, or cancellations.



Chicago Bulls Plan to Retire Derrick Rose’s Jersey Next Season

Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose speaks to the audience during a half-time celebration for Derrick Rose Night at the United Center on January 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)
Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose speaks to the audience during a half-time celebration for Derrick Rose Night at the United Center on January 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)
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Chicago Bulls Plan to Retire Derrick Rose’s Jersey Next Season

Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose speaks to the audience during a half-time celebration for Derrick Rose Night at the United Center on January 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)
Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose speaks to the audience during a half-time celebration for Derrick Rose Night at the United Center on January 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)

Derrick Rose wasn't sure how he will feel when sees his No. 1 hanging from the rafters. He was still trying to process the news.

The Chicago Bulls announced Saturday they plan to retire Rose's jersey sometime next season. The Chicago product and MVP will join Michael Jordan (23), Scottie Pippen (33), Jerry Sloan (4) and Bob Love (10) as the only players whose numbers have been retired by the team.

Team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf informed him in person on Saturday morning, telling him “nobody’s wearing that No. 1 jersey again” unless son PJ plays for the team. Rose, who retired in September after 16 seasons, was already scheduled to be honored with tributes before and during their game against the New York Knicks that night. The Bulls said they will have more details about the jersey retirement at a later date.

“Tonight is not about that,” Rose said. He said it was about showing appreciation for “everybody that was a part of the story, the journey, the good, the bad, the ugly.”

“It's celebrating everyone,” he said. “I understand coming from Chicago that it's tough love. It's a lot of tough love. You could forget about the love sometimes and just give toughness. Coming back, me being raised off of that tough love, I just wanted to show the love part. There's toughness, too, but you don't have to be tough all the time. It's understanding and realizing why I'm here.”

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement: “Derrick is both a hometown hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball."

On Saturday, the Bulls unveiled the “Derrick Rose Experience” in the United Center’s atrium showcasing memorabilia from his career. Players on both teams wore themed shooting shirts displaying “1.4.25” symbolizing the date as well as the numbers he wore with the Bulls, Knicks and at Chicago's Simeon Career Academy. Black T-shirts emblazoned with a red rose were at each seat. There were to be moments throughout the game recognizing Rose, his family and teammates.

At halftime, Rose walked out to those familiar “MVP! MVP!” chants after a highlight video played. He took a seat next to his mom, Brenda. He broke down when former teammate Joakim Noah told him he “always put your city on your back” and said he's “the people's champ.” Another video narrated by PJ was shown before Rose addressed the crowd.

“So well deserved,” New York's Tom Thibodeau, who coached Rose in his prime with the Bulls as well as in New York and Minnesota, said before the game. “For what he means to the city, the Bulls, the entire NBA. I had the opportunity to coach against him, so I know how difficult that is. I had the good fortune to coach him. You see in looking in the eyes of the opponent, when they had to guard him you could see the fear and the respect.”

Thibodeau said Rose — known for his humility almost as much as his explosiveness — was “probably the most beloved player in the league.” He also said he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Rose, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, went from being Rookie of the Year to an All-Star to NBA MVP in his first three seasons. He remains the league's youngest MVP, winning it when he was 22.

A major knee injury during the 2012 playoffs forced him to miss almost two full seasons and he contemplated stepping away from the game several times following other injury issues.

Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 regular-season games. He averaged 21 points per game before the ACL tear 12 years ago and 15.1 per game in the seasons that followed. But he insisted he doesn't think about what might have been if not for the injuries.

“The last time I had those conversations was years and years ago,” he said. “Who knows? But at the same time, with me being obsessed, I wouldn't have found out who I was as a person. I was obsessed with the game. Not love, I was obsessed. If I would have won one championship, I would have wanted four. And that would have pulled me further and further away from finding self-knowledge, self-revelation, my identity. Everybody's story is different. For some reason, mine ended being this way. Coming from Chicago, we roll with the punches.”