Smalling relishing chance to shine in RSL

New signing Chris Smalling is determined to repay the faith shown in him by Al Fayha as he gets set to make his Roshn Saudi League debut this weekend.

The former Manchester United and England defender, 34, joined the Al Majma’ah club last week having agreed to a deadline-deal from AS Roma. Smalling played 155 for the Serie A club during a five-year spell, scoring 10 goals. Previous to that, he was part of two English Premier League-winning squads with Manchester United, while he has been capped 31 times by England.

Now settling in new surroundings, Smalling is in line to feature for Al Fayha on Saturday, when they host Al Raed at Al Majma’ah Sports City as the 2024-25 RSL returns with Matchweek 3 following the FIFA international break.

“I’m very excited to have a new experience,” Smalling told Al Fayha's official social media channel. “I’ve always welcomed new challenges, and this is this is my next one after England and Italy.

"And especially over the last year, the league has grown and grown and grown, especially with the amount of different international players coming into the league. So to be a part of that journey is very exciting.”

Smalling, who at AS Roma won the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League and was a runner-up also in the following season’s UEFA Europa League, said conversations with Al Fayha manager Christos Kontis and the club’s hierarchy were pivotal in his decision to come to the Kingdom.

“There was some discussions not long before I arrived, but also speaking to the manager at length in terms of his aspirations in how he wanted the team to play and also the president’s will as well to really push - he was working very hard to make it happen - so I felt all that want and really a desire to be a part of it ,” Smalling said.

“And having spoken to some other players that recently came here, of their experience, especially with their families settling in, was really positive, and how they were finding the league in terms of each week coming up against totally different teams and strong teams. It was nice to hear that and reinforce that it was the right decision.”

Indeed, Smalling will know quite a few players in this season’s RSL, with former defensive partner at AS Roma, Roger Ibanez, signing for Al Ahli in the summer of last year, and another ex-teammate, Georginio Wijnaldum, then joining Al Ettifaq during the same window.

This summer, a third familiar face from the Serie A side, Houssem Aouar, made the move from Rome to Jeddah, as one of Al Ittihad’s principal recruits.

“I had some options of where I wanted to go for the next challenge, but this was right at the top,” said Smalling, who is keen to help Al Fayha improve on their ninth-placed finish last term. “And especially after I spoke to quite a few other players who are here, it felt right that this league is really growing.

"So to be able to be a part of that and also to help the club grow and beat the expectations of last season is a good challenge."

Smalling added: “I spoke with many different players and also some managers. But, equally at Roma, we've had a few players like Roger Ibanez who obviously came here, [Houssem] who's came just before me, and Gini Wijnaldum as well. All players who I know really well and who recently just moved here.

"So it was reassuring to speak to people who have just settled in and how their first few months [have been]. And they couldn’t speak more glowingly, so it really helped.”

Asked for a concluding statement for the expectant Al Fayha fans, Smalling said: “My message is you would have seen me play over the years, but I'm coming with 100 percent attitude and hopefully I'm going to repay that on the pitch.

“I can't wait to see you at the stadium and to deliver good performances.”