The winter transfer window has passed, and a large number of new players have arrived in Saudi Arabia, ready to start their journey to the Rosh Saudi League.
It’s worth noting once again that our club’s collective preference is to look for younger players as the dynamics surrounding future signings are changing.
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With that in mind, here are some of the new faces in RSL to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.
Mohamed Kader Maite – Al Hilal
Al Hilal appear to have signed the highly-rated 18-year-old striker from Rennes.
Mete’s signing was all but ignored amid the drama of the final days of the transfer window, but given the striker has recently been linked with a move to English giants Manchester United, the news hasn’t gone unnoticed around the world.
He is considered a future star for the France national team and will receive valuable guidance while working alongside compatriot and new signing Karim Benzema.
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George Elenikina – Al Ittihad
From one young French star to another, the RSL champions will be boosted by the arrival of the 19-year-old striker who, despite his young age, has already played more than 100 games for Amiens, Antwerp and Monaco. Therefore, a move to Lille has been proposed in this window.
Ilenikina, who made his Coupe de France debut at just 16 years old, has made 38 appearances for Monaco over the past season and a half, scoring five goals and is scheduled to be selected in 2023 Guardian’s The ‘next generation’ list of world football’s best young talents.
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Iker Cotaggarena-Alholud
Al Holoud have been very busy in the winter transfer window as they try to strengthen their squad in a further bid for survival. The 25-year-old Spaniard recently featured in La Liga 2 for Huesca and looks to be one of the most interesting new signings.
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One would have a keen understanding of the Spanish market, particularly its second division, given that Alcorud has links to Spanish football through Pioneer boss Ben Harburg, who also has La Liga side Cadiz in his portfolio.
With that in mind, Alkrud will no doubt be watching Cotaggarena up close this season. As such, they will be fully aware of what an attacking midfielder can bring to the table.
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Marin Petkov – Al Taawoun
Six of Al Taawoun’s foreign players hail from South America, so they stepped outside that particular box when bringing in the 22-year-old Bulgaria international forward.
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Petkov, who has made more than 20 appearances for his country, was joint top scorer for Levski Sofia last season as the team finished second in his country’s top flight, and he has scored seven goals this season to help them top the table.
With Al Tavin struggling a bit at the moment, Petkov could be just what they need to rediscover their mojo as Periklis Chamska’s ambitious side look to secure a top-five finish.
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Muhannad Al Saad – NEOM Sports Club
It’s not just foreign stars who come to RSL; One of the country’s most promising youngsters also returns after spells in Europe with Dunkirk in France and Sporting Lausanne in Switzerland.
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Al Sadd is not a new signing for NEOM SC, having joined in 2024 when they were still in the second tier, but due to his recent loan spell, his return will feel like a new signing for Christophe Galtier’s side.
The ambitious promoted club needed a spark to revive their opening game goals. Therefore, Al Sadd’s comeback is indeed very timely.
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Victor Lehar – Riyadh
Riyadh are another club busy in the transfer market with some new additions to their squad. And, given their struggles this season, it’s easy to see why.
What the capital club need is an experienced head as they try to find a path to safety and Algeria international Victor Lekhal may have found just that.
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The French-born midfielder, 31, has already played more than 200 games for Le Habre in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, accumulating more than 200 games of expertise. Additionally, he recently played in Qatar with Umm Salal and in Kuwait with Qadsia SC to get a feel for what’s going on in the region.
Riyadh sign experienced midfielder Victor Lehar to bolster their survival battle
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Ali Azaize – Al-Shabaab
The 21-year-old has been on the fringes of Jordan’s national team for some time but finally got his chance to impress when he made his debut against Mali in November.
Azaeze proved this with his star performance at the recent AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, where he was joint top scorer with four goals, including a brace against Saudi Arabia, which has certainly put him on the radar of RSL clubs.
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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, a strong performance from Al-Shabaab could put Azaize on a plane to North America.
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Ivan Neyo – Al Okhdood
Just a year ago, the Cameroon international represented Getafe in La Liga against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, while he also gained significant experience in Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne and represented his country at the 2021 African Cup of Nations.
This elite level education, mainly about keeping a cool head when things don’t go well, could be just what Al Okhdoud needs in the remaining games as the penultimate club try to escape the relegation zone.
