10 Young Stars to Watch in 2024-25 RSL

One of football’s great delights comes from watching the unearthing of the next superstar, witnessing the transformation from potential into promise.

Every season in the Roshn Saudi League there are emerging talents waiting to be discovered, eager for their chance to impress and to put their name up in lights.

With the RSL extending the foreign-player quota to allow for two additional players born after 2003, this season more than any promises to showcase some of the best young stars to grace the Kingdom’s top flight.

With that in mind, and with the 2024-25 RSL kicking off on Thursday, we have compiled a list of 10 names of the best players under 23 to watch out for this season.

Gabri Veiga (22, Spain) - Al Ahli

The prodigiously talented Spaniard was one of the eye-catching signings ahead of the 2023-24 season, but injury blighted his first campaign in the RSL. The 22-year-old admitted it had taken him time to adjust to his new surroundings – understandably so – but then injury struck. Having returned to full fitness and, with 12 months’ experience under his belts, this shapes as a defining season for the Spanish youth international midfielder.

Ezequiel Fernandez (22, Argentina) - Al Qadsiah

Fresh off an impressive showing for Argentina at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he scored against Iraq, the signing of “Equi” is a coup for the newly promoted Al Qadsiah. A product of arguably Argentina’s greatest club, Boca Juniors, Fernandez was a name linked with a host of Europe’s biggest clubs, but it was Al Qadsiah that won out.

RSL fans will be the biggest winners, though, as they to watch an all-action midfielder showcase his talent week-in, week-out.

Talal Haji (17, Saudi Arabia) - Al Ittihad

By far the youngest player on this list, Haji made history last season by becoming both the youngest player to debut in the RSL and also its youngest goalscorer. Having also earned his debut with the senior national team at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, it was a season to remember for the fresh-faced teenager.

With a new campaign on the horizon, the remarkable 16-year-old striker will be keen to continue the momentum he generated in the back half of 2023-24.

Alexsander (20, Brazil) - Al Ahli

Taking advantage of the new quota for players born after 2003, Al Ahli secured the signing of highly rated midfielder, Alexsander, from Brazilian giants Fluminense. A key member of the Brazilian side that won last year’s South American U-20 Championship, he was linked with a move to clubs like AS Monaco, Olympique de Marseille and Lazio, before committing his future to Al Ahli.

The prospect, then, of a midfield containing the Brazilian and Veiga is a mouth-watering one.

Muath Faqeehi (22, Saudi Arabia) - Al Ittihad

Having shown promise with Al Hilal, his 2023-24 season on loan with Al Taawoun underscored the potential of the 22-year-old full-back. Awarded the RSL’s Best Young Player award for September last season, Faqeehi’s dynamism on the flanks attracted plenty of attention, with Al Ittihad swooping for the much-sought-after defender in the latest example of the 2022-23 Saudi champions looking to youth to shape their future.

Carlos Jimenez (18, Spain) - Al Qadsiah

The precocious central defender put pen to paper with Al Qadsiah this week, becoming the latest young prospect to commit their future to the RSL, signing a deal that keeps him in Al Khobar until 2029.

A product of the youth academy at Levante UD of Spain’s Segunda Division, Jimenez spent last season with the club’s reserve team and will now learn from experienced veterans like compatriot Nacho and Belgium international goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Ahmed Al Ghamdi (22, Saudi Arabia) - Al Ittihad

The 22-year-old has a unique back story having been raised in Canada, which is also where he made his professional debut for Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.

A hugely exciting midfielder, Al Ghamdi joined Al Ittihad last season initially on loan from Al Ettifaq, a move that was made permanent after a number of eye-catching performances, which included goals against Al Fayha and Al Fateh.

Salem Al Najdi (21, Saudi Arabia) - Al Nassr

A summer signing from boyhood club Al Fateh, the versatile winger seems set for another step on the progression ladder having shown enough for Al Nassr to snap him up. Al Najdi broke through at Al Fateh during the 2022-23 season in which he made 17 RSL appearances, continuing to make his mark last term with another 24 matches in the book.

Able to operate at left-back, he chipped in with three league goals in 2023-24 as Al Fateh finished seventh, underlining both Al Najdi's attacking capabilities and an increasing comfort among the division's finest. 

Mohammed Abdulrahman (21, Saudi Arabia) – Al Ettifaq

The 21-year-old defender certainly took his opportunity under new manager Steven Gerrard last season. Abdulrahman joined Al Ettifaq in 2021 as an 18-year-old, but it wasn’t until Gerrard’s arrival that he made his senior debut, coming off the bench in the opening-day win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.

Abdulrahman’s impressive form also earned him a call up to the Saudi U23 national team for the prestigious Maurice Revello Tournament in France.

Musab Al Juwayr (21, Saudi Arabia) - Al Hilal/Al Shabab

The Al Hilal youth product has been on the radar of talent spotters for several seasons now since making his professional debut in 2021 as a 17-year-old. Al Juwayr soon displayed a maturity beyond his years, taking the decisive fifth penalty when Al Hilal defeated Wydad Casablanca at the FIFA Club World Cup 2022.

An impressive season in 2023-24 on loan at Al Shabab - he was named RSL Young Player of the Month for April - has only heightened the expectations around what the 21-year-old midfielder can do at the reigning RSL champions.