10 Saudi Players to Watch in 2024-25 RSL

The dawn of a new season brings with it fresh excitement about the fresh additions to the Roshn Saudi League, names that will provide hours of entertainment across the next 34 rounds of action.

Equally as entertaining, however, are the household stars already within the league that have set the benchmark for some time now, or perhaps have only emerged, standing above as the best Saudi players in the RSL.

A mix of experienced and youthfulness, here are 10 Saudi Arabians to keep an eye out for as the 2024-25 season kicks into gear on Thursday.

Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal)

Where else could we start than with Salem Al Dawsari? The reigning AFC Player of the Year has been leading the way for Al Hilal for the past decade and, even with the influx of star names to the current RSL champions over the years, he remains one of the first picked on the teamsheet.

Now captain, Al Dawsari’s experience is invaluable, but above all else it’s the quality of the winger’s play that sets him apart. At 33, he enters the new season on the back of his best-ever RSL, with a career-high 14 goals in 2023-24.

Feras Al Buraikan (Al Ahli)

For as impressive as Al Dawsari’s 14 goals were last season, they were bettered by the Al Ahli marksman, who netted an impressive 17 times. Starting the campaign with Al Fateh, Al Buraikan took something of a risk moving to a side stacked with attacking talent such as Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Allan Saint-Maximin.

However, he flourished under the tutelage of German tactician Matthias Jaissle, finishing as the leading Saudi goalscorer in the RSL for the third straight season.

Moteb Al Harbi (Al Shabab)

The promising left-back had another stellar season for Al Shabab and thus is a man in demand ahead of the new campaign, with the Riyadh club apparently fielding a number of offers for his services this summer. Al Harbi shot to prominence back in the 2021-22 season, playing almost every game and being named the Rising Star of the Month on four separate occasions.

With the additional experience under his belt, his is a star very much on the rise.

Ali Hazazi (Al Qadsiah)

The supremely experienced midfielder is back in the RSL with the club at which it all began. Al Hazazi made his senior debut for Al Qadsiah in 2014 and, having then stayed in Al Khobar for four years, embarked on the short trip to Eastern Province rivals Al Ettifaq.

A former Saudi Arabia international, Hazazi, made 123 RSL appearances in the past five seasons alone, and therefore returns home this summer with high hopes of becoming more instrumental than in his first stint at the club. Will he benefit from Al Qadsiah’s extensive summer spend?

Saleh Al Shehri (Al Ittihad)

While Al Dawsari’s winner against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2022 captured all the headlines, it was Al Shehri’s fine strike that actually drew the Green Falcons level in Qatar. A natural frontman, Al Shehri made the significant switch this off-season from Al Hilal to fierce rivals Al Ittihad having found regular game-time in Riyadh hard to come by.

Having said that, his return of five goals from 14 appearances represents a fine output. Understandably, he’ll be hoping to continue that form in the black and yellow of an Al Ittihad keen to make amends for last season’s frustrating RSL title defence.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al Nassr)

The diminutive winger, standing only 165cm, is the very definition of an exhilarating wideman. When he’s at his best, Ghareeb is hard to play against, a combination of great skill and touch, combined with his fleet of foot, making the Al Nassr attacker incredibly difficult for defences to thwart.

Ghareeb was a standout for Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 earlier in the season and has established himself at his expectant club side under Luis Castro.

Abdulelah Al Malki (Al Ettifaq)

This season should breathe life back into Al Malki, who has moved on loan from Al Hilal to Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq. It’s been a lean few years at the capital club for the skillful midfielder after his switch from Al Ittihad ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

At his best, Al Malki is a commanding box-to-box midfielder and, with opportunities likely to be more forthcoming in Dammam, this could be the year the 29-year-old returns to his best.

Nawaf Al Abed (Al Riyadh)

A veritable RSL veteran, the former Al Hilal and Al Shabab playmaker made the move this summer from Al Qadsiah to Al Riyadh where, despite turning 34 earlier this year, much will be expected in the robustly revamped team.

Al Abed’s appeal is long-lasting, of course, not only because of his reputation but also his repertoire – evidenced by his participation for Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Can he get back to the sort of form that made him a firm fan favourite in the RSL?

Awn Al Al Saluli (Al Taawoun)

The rangy centre-back is quickly becoming a real hit in the RSL. Al Saluli started out Al Ittihad but, following a couple of loan spells, made the move to Al Taawoun in 2021 – and has not looked back.

Last season, though, was by far the standout: Al Saluli made a career-best 26 RSL appearances as the Buraidah club came home fourth. In pipping former side Al Ittihad to the ranking, Al Saluli and Al Taawoun will play continental football this campaign. The defender’s stock has risen so that he is now a regular in the national team.

Eid Al Muwallad (Al Okhdood)

The 22-year-old was a revelation for Al Okhdood last season in his first campaign in the RSL after helping the club earn promotion from the Saudi First Division League the previous term. During that season, Al Muwallad was named the second tier’s best young player.

The defensive midfielder continued that form into the top flight, catching the eye of national-team manager Roberto Mancini, who called him up to the senior side. Al Muwallad made his debut in November in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Jordan, capping a somewhat meteoric rise.