Russian football club Zenit St. Petersburg announced the transfer of Brazilian striker Malcom to Saudi club Al-Hilal, in what is being billed as the largest-ever transfer deal in the history of the Russian Premier League. Zenit's chairman Alexander Medvedev confirmed the move, although no financial details have been disclosed.

Malcom had only joined Zenit from Barcelona last year, after the Spanish club paid around £36m ($50m) for his services. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he had only played a handful of games for Zenit before moving to Al-Hilal. Malcom had previously enjoyed a successful career in France, playing for Bordeaux and then signing for Barca for around €40m in 2018.

His time in Spain was less successful, however, and he spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Zenit. Now 24, Malcom has represented Brazil at various levels, although has yet to make his full international debut. Al-Hilal has been one of the biggest-spending clubs in the Middle East in recent years, having won the AFC Champions League in 2019. Overall, this is yet another sign of the growing globalisation of football, with players and coaches increasingly moving from one country to another depending on where they can secure the best deal. For Malcom, the move from Russia to Saudi Arabia is a significant step, but one that could prove financially lucrative in the short, medium, and long-term. For Zenit, the sale of Malcom will provide a significant injection of cash into the club's coffers, which could help fund new signings in the future.

Overall, then, this is a significant transfer that underlines the growing power and reach of clubs in the Middle East, which are increasingly competing with traditional footballing powerhouses in Europe and elsewhere.