Introducing the 2024-25 RSL new boys

Outside of winning the title, there are few greater feelings in league football quite like earning promotion, and that was the sensation felt last season by Al Qadsiah, Al Orobah and Al Kholood.

The trio finished first, second and third, respectively, in the 2023-24 First Division League to earn their place in this season’s Roshn Saudi League, which kicks off on August 22.

But who are the three newly promoted teams? And what can we expect from them this season?

Al Qadsiah

From Al Khobar in the Eastern Province, Al Qadsiah have made a global name for themselves with their work in the summer transfer window.

It’s been an off-season of change for the First Division League champions, who unveiled a new logo and brand identity to coincide with their return to the RSL for the first time since 2020-21. However, it’s been Al Qadsiah’s summer signings that have captured the attention, with Michel’s side signalling their intentions early.

Headlined by the capture of Real Madrid captain Nacho, as well as former Arsenal and Barcelona striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the 1993-94 Asian Cup Winners Cup also added Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels, Uruguayan international Nahitan Nandez and Mexican international Julian Quinones. Meanwhile, exciting 22-year-old Argentine Ezequiel Fernandez, who impressed at the recent Olympic Games in France, joined last week.

Adding strength to their local contingent also, with Saudi internationals Qassem Lajami and Ali Hazazi, as well as RSL veterans Hussein Al Qahtani and Mohammed Qassem among others, all the pieces are in place for a solid campaign for Al Qadsiah.

Al Orobah

Back in the Roshn Saudi League for the first time in a decade, Al Orobah are the northernmost club in the RSL this season, hailing from Sakakah in Al Jouf Province.

In truth, it’s been a difficult past decade for the club. After winning the Saudi First Division League in 2012-13, they earned promotion to the RSL, finishing a respectable eighth in their first-ever campaign - although, given how tight that season was, that was still only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Al Orobah found life at the top tougher at the second time of asking, though, managing only four wins in the 2014-15 season to finish bottom and, with it, experience relegation. Then, having narrowly missed promotion at the first time of asking, Al Orobah suffered a real fall from grace in 2018-19 when they were relegated to the third tier of Saudi football.

Once there, they only just survived the devastation of back-to-back relegations, which would’ve seen them slide to the fourth tier. As it was, Al Orobah finished top of their group the following season to earn promotion back to the First Division and, now just a few years on, they are back in the top flight, completing a remarkable rise and bookending a decade of ups and downs.

In terms of notable additions to the squad, Al Orobah have recruited midfielder Fahad Al Rashidi, who featured 27 times for Al Riyadh in last season’s RSL, defender Hussein Al Shuwaysh, who played 30 league games last season for Al Fayha, and fellow defender Ibrahim Al Zubaidi. The former Al Ahli man made 14 RSL appearances while on loan last term at Abha.

Most recently, Al Orobah signed Knowledge Musona from Al Riyadh - the Zimbabwean midfielder scored four times in 22 appearances in last season’s RSL - and Belgian goalkeeper Gaetan Coucke, from Belgian Pro League side KV Mechelen, as new manager Alvaro Pacheco attempts to build a squad robust enough for the RSL.

Al Kholood

Al Kholood, located in Ar Rass, just north of the Riyadh, will make history this season when they play in the Roshn Saudi League for the very first time.

Last season didn’t start at all well, in truth, as the club sat as low as 10th almost a third of the way through the 2023-24 First Division League campaign. However, Al Kholood displayed their mettle to storm home to finish third and seal the final promotion spot in a fairytale story for the 54-year-old outfit.

This was a club that, as recently as 2020-21, were playing in the third tier; to take it back even further, in 2016-17, Al Kholood were competing a division below that. It highlights what a remarkable rise it has been.

Now they’re in the RSL, and under the tutelage of Portuguese manager Paulo Duarte, they have no plans on dropping back down anytime soon. Al Kholood signalled their intentions early this summer with the signing of standout Brazilian goalkeeper, and 2022-23 RSL champion, Marcelo Grohe from Al Ittihad, as well as Al Hilal centre-back Mohamed Jahfali.

The club have added a number of others, too. They will hope the active transfer window will be enough to make their debut campaign in the RSL a memorable one.