The Saudi Pro League is back underway this week following the winter break over the Christmas period. Al-Ittihad currently lead the way at the top of the table, closely followed by Al Hilal and Al-Nassr.

A number of former Chelsea players are currently playing in the league, including Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy. The Stamford Bridge outfit have raised some significant fees in recent years through the sale of some big-name players, which has in turn allowed them to strengthen their current playing squad as they battle it out in the top four this season.

Koulibaly spent just a single season at Stamford Bridge having signed for the Blues from Napoli in the summer of 2022. He was then sold to Al-Hilal 12 months later, where he remains under contract until 2026.

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The Senegal international won the Saudi Pro League title in his first season with the club, as well as the King's Cup. In both 2023 and 2024, he won the Saudi Super Cup, beating Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr in the process.

Kante, on the other hand, enjoyed a trophy-laden seven years at Chelsea between 2016 and 2023. He then joined Al-Ittihad on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract, where he has been for the last season-and-a-half.

Now 33, Kante has scored six goals and registered seven assists in his 58 appearances for his current club so far. This season, he has started all but one of Al-Ittihad's 13 games so far, proving a key player for his side as they sit two points clear at the top of the table.

Mendy signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2020 and spent three years at Stamford Bridge until 2023. The goalkeeper then joined Al-Ahli in a deal worth a reported £16m.

He remains under contract there until 2026 and the 32-year-old has started 10 league games so far this season. Al-Ahli are currently fifth in the table and 10 points off top spot as things stand.

Two other former Blues are also playing their football in the Saudi Pro League, although they didn't move directly from Chelsea. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, also formerly of Arsenal, spent one season with the club in 2022/23 before he left for Marseille on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

Last year, he joined Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League and they are currently fourth in the table. Aubameyang has scored seven goals for the club across all competitions in his 13 appearances so far.

Kurt Zouma joined Chelsea as a young player in 2014 and went on to make over 150 appearances for the club. He also had various loan spells with the likes of Stoke City and Everton.

He joined West Ham on a permanent transfer in 2021 and had remained in the Premier League up until last summer. He is currently on loan in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Orobah until the end of the current campaign.

Zouma has made just eight league appearances for the club so far this term as they struggle towards the bottom end of the table in 14th. They are just a single point off the relegation places as things stand.