For the second year, Twenty First Group and Bain & Company have assessed the Roshn Saudi League, combining TFG’s Intelligence Engine with Bain’s knowledge of the Saudi football ecosystem.

Saudi regularly produces one of world football’s most open title races, with three different champions in four seasons and this season smallest gap between first and fourth of any the major leagues benchmarked. The strongest clubs now stand comparison with established football nations. Four sit inside the world’s top 250 by team quality, and Al-Ahli retained the AFC Champions League Elite.

The room to grow is equally clear. Only one of eighteen clubs grew the value of its own players organically last season, and young Saudis received a smaller share of minutes than their peers in comparable leagues. Al-Taawoun showed one route forward, signing players at 46% below our model’s valuation and finishing fifth, while Al-Qadsiah gave young Saudis some of the highest amount of minutes on its way to fourth.

We will keep tracking the league’s development as its next phase takes shape, in the data and on the ground. For enquiries about how Twenty First Group can support you across the Saudi football ecosystem, contact our regional General Manager, Fearghas Rae, at fearghas@twentyfirstgroup.com or on LinkedIn.

Read Bain & Company’s perspective on the full report here