Al Hilal has tabled a €25 million annual salary offer for Bayern Munich forward Luis Díaz, nearly doubling his current wages. The deal, which lacks any cryptocurrency elements, signals a potential shift in how top-tier sports transfers are financed — moving away from the crypto-heavy sponsorship and payment structures that dominated headlines in recent years.
The offer on the table
The Saudi Pro League side is pushing hard to land the Colombian international. Díaz currently earns around €13 million per season at Bayern, meaning Al Hilal's proposal would represent a significant pay raise. The club is betting on the 29-year-old to lead its attack as part of a broader squad overhaul.
No crypto, by design
Unlike several high-profile transfers and sponsorship deals in 2025 and early 2026 that involved cryptocurrency payments or tokenized incentives, this offer is entirely in traditional fiat. The absence of any digital asset component is notable given the trend of clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan partnering with crypto platforms. It suggests that Al Hilal — and perhaps the Saudi football project more broadly — is prioritizing straightforward cash deals over experimental financial instruments.
Part of a bigger spending spree
Al Hilal's move for Díaz is just the latest in a wave of aggressive spending by Saudi clubs. The kingdom has been on a buying binge, luring stars from European leagues with eye-watering salaries. This offer fits that pattern, but the lack of crypto involvement stands out. It may reflect a strategic choice to avoid the volatility and regulatory scrutiny that have dogged crypto-backed sports deals, or simply a preference for simplicity in a market that values immediate liquidity.
Díaz has not yet responded to the offer. His current contract with Bayern runs through 2028, so any transfer would require a substantial fee on top of the salary. The coming weeks will show whether the Colombian sees his future in Riyadh — and whether the crypto-free approach becomes the new normal in Saudi football.
