– In a landmark move that reshapes the future of professional darts, 19-year-old phenomenon Luke Littler has signed a staggering £100 million contract to join the newly formed Saudi Darts League (SDL) starting in the 2027 season.
The deal, confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday, makes the Warrington-born teen the highest-paid athlete in the history of the sport, eclipsing the entire career earnings of multiple world champions combined.
Littler, who took the darting world by storm with his meteoric rise to the 2025 World Championship final, will serve as the global face of the SDL’s expansion. The league, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), aims to rival the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) by offering unprecedented prize money and a franchise-based team format.
“This was not an easy decision, but the vision they have for darts is incredible,” Littler said during a press conference in Riyadh. “By 2027, I’ll have achieved everything I want in the PDC. This allows me to build a legacy and grow the game on a global stage. The £100 million is life-changing, but the chance to captain a franchise and mentor young players from the Middle East really sold it.”
The contract guarantees Littler a £40 million signing bonus, a £20 million annual salary over three years, and performance-based incentives that could push the total value past £120 million. He will also serve as a global ambassador for Saudi sports tourism.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the darts community. PDC chairman Barry Hearn expressed disappointment but acknowledged the inevitability of the shift.
“Luke is a once-in-a-generation talent, and we fought hard to keep him,” Hearn said. “But when a sovereign wealth fund decides to write a nine-figure check, traditional governing bodies cannot compete. We wish him well, but we remain confident that the PDC’s heritage will endure.”
Reaction among fans has been sharply divided. Outside the Alexandra Palace in London, home of the World Darts Championship, some supporters expressed betrayal, while others argued Littler was securing his financial future.
“He’s 18—I’d take the money in a heartbeat,” said one fan, Dave Thompson. “But darts is about the crowd, the beer, the atmosphere. Saudi Arabia doesn’t have that culture.”
The Saudi Darts League is set to launch in early 2026 with four franchise teams. Littler will spend his final two PDC seasons completing contractual obligations before debuting with the Riyad Royals in January 2027.
The PIF has confirmed plans to build a state-of-the-art darts arena in Jeddah and introduce youth academies across the region. Littler is expected to have a direct role in coaching and talent identification.
For now, the teen sensation says his focus remains on adding more PDC majors to his cabinet. But with £100 million guaranteed in three years, the darts world knows the game has changed forever.
