Introducing the 2025-26 RSL new boys | OneFootball

The new Roshn Saudi League season means three fresh clubs into the competition, with two in fact making their Saudi top-flight debut.

Need to get up to speed? Check them out below - and even run the rule over the trio to decide where you think they’ll finish come next May.

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NEOM SC

Manager: Christophe Galtier

Star signing: Alexandre Lacazette

One to Watch: Said Benrahma

The hugely ambitious Tabuk club compete in the RSL for the first time in their history having won last season’s Saudi First Division League (SFDL). Indeed, they sealed promotion with four rounds to spare.

Already featuring RSL title winners in Salman Al Faraj, Mohammed Al Burayk and Ahmed Hegazi, NEOM SC have been one of the busiest clubs in the summer transfer window.

NEOM SC sign Christophe Galtier as manager

As well as appointing former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier, they have recruited the likes of ex-Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, from Everton.

With them, a host of promising young stars from France’s Ligue 1 have come through the door, in Amadou Kone, Nathan Zeze and Saimon Bouabre.

Another astute signing comes in the form of Saudi defender Faris Abdi, the full-back who was one of the bright sparks last season at Al Fayha.

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Al Najmah

Manager: Mario Silva

Star signing: Romell Quioto

One to Watch: David Tijanic

The side from Unaizah became the second team to earn promotion to the 2025-26 RSL when they sealed the SFDL’s runner-up spot on the penultimate matchweek last term.

Managed by former Boavista and FC Porto full-back Mario Silva, Al Najmah have never contested the RSL and thus are the 34th club to appear in the top division.

As one of the twin cities – alongside Buraidah – that forms the urban centre of Qassim, it means the region will this season be represented by four clubs in all (Al Taawoun, Al Kholood and Al Hazem the others).

Like NEOM SC, Al Najmah have been pretty active in this summer’s window, bringing in a raft of players, including Hondurans Romell Quioto and Deybi Flores, and Slovenian midfielder David Tijanic.

While Quioto has been added to score goals following two productive seasons in Qatar, Tijanic could be the man to make the team tick. He shouldn’t take time to settle given he spent the best part of the past two years on loan at SFDL side Al Adalah.

Al Najmah have also strengthened significantly their local ranks, signing a whopping 11 players from fellow Saudi teams.

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Al Hazem

Manager: Jalel Kadri

Star signing: N/A

One to Watch: Abdulaziz Al Harbi

Completing the set this season, the Ar Rass club are back in the big time following relegation to the SFDL at the conclusion of the 2023-24 RSL.

Al Hazem were the final side to gain promotion at the very first attempt thanks to their 3-0 victory against Al Adalah in the first-ever SFDL Play-off Final. They had beaten Al Tai in the semi-final after finishing third in the table.

Al Hazem’s return to the top flight means Ar Rass, with a population of a little more than 121,000, will have two representatives in the RSL for the first time in its history. The Al Rass derby will therefore pit against one another Al Hazem and Al Kholood.

Yet to announce any player signings, the club’s biggest bit of business thus far this summer was in appointing Jalel Kadri, the former Tunisia head coach who has RSL experience having previously managed Al Khaleej.

Going the other way, the club have released a chunk of last term's squad, such as the 2024-25 SFDL's top assister, Karim Yoda, and the campaign’s fourth-highest goalscorer, Zinho Gano.