RIYADH — In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the world of professional darts, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally offered teenage sensation Luke Littler a staggering £50 million per year to become the flagship player of the newly established Saudi Darts Premier League.
The offer, confirmed early Tuesday by sources close to the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, would make the 19-year-old British phenom one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet — dwarfing the entire annual prize money of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) several times over.
The proposed league, described as a “revolutionary breakaway competition,” is reportedly backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which already controls LIV Golf and owns Newcastle United. According to leaked term sheets, Littler would be granted full ownership of his image rights, a private jet, and a “ambassadorial role” in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 sports expansion plan.
“The Crown Prince is an enormous admirer of Luke’s precision, composure, and popularity among young fans,” a spokesperson for Saudi’s Ministry of Sport said. “This is not merely a contract — it is an invitation to write the next chapter of darts history, with Saudi Arabia as its global home.”
Littler, who rose to superstardom after his run to the PDC World Championship final at age 16, has not yet publicly responded. However, his manager confirmed that the offer is “under serious review,” adding: “These numbers are life-changing not just for Luke, but for his entire family for generations. We would be foolish not to listen.”
The PDC has reacted with alarm. In a statement, CEO Matt Porter said: “We have seen speculative reports about a rival league. The PDC remains the global governing body of professional darts, and any player accepting such an offer would face immediate expulsion from all PDC-sanctioned events, including the World Championship.”
Veteran players have expressed concern. “Fifty million a year? For darts?” former world champion John Part told BBC Sport. “That’s not a sports contract — that’s a geopolitical statement. But Luke has to ask himself: what’s the legacy? You can’t buy a world title at Alexandra Palace.”
The proposed Saudi Darts Premier League is rumored to launch in late 2026, featuring a 10-player invitational field, a £1 million per tournament prize fund, and finals to be held at the state-of-the-art Superdome in Jeddah. Negotiations are reportedly underway with at least four other top-10 PDC players.
For now, the darting world holds its breath. If Littler accepts, it could trigger the biggest exodus in the sport’s history — and redefine where, and for whom, the world’s best players throw their arrows.
