As obviously known, usual many arguments raised toward Saudi Pro League post it’s tremendous global transformation in 2023 that led them to successfully attracts countless global mega stars. One of the most famous question marks is related to possible affection on local youngsters’ talent growth due to such foreigner domination on majority of the squads (8+2) that generated limited spots for locals.
Strongly proven by analyzing playing minutes of Saudi Arabia U20 NT squad players with their clubs, who also participated in 2025 AFC Asian Cup campaign in China. But In-spite of the young ‘Falcons’ reached the final and secured a place in the FIFA U20 World Cup, the data shown an average of just 146 playing minutes that obviously in-sufficient for any concrete progress.
However, in the middle of such challenge, a solid local benchmark is proudly stand-out as Al-Ettifaq FC is uniquely evolved an alternative competitive model around local talents development. 1st Saudi invincible 1983’ is oppositely shaping club’s DNA around strong relying on Saudi youngsters, paralleled with clear academy vision of develop national-team players across all age groups. Proven by continuous involvement in age groups national teams’ squads throughout last decade, starting from Saudi Arabia U20 strong come back to podiums in 2016 U19 AFC Asian Cup’.
Keeping strong links to football #Vision2030 local professional standards by elevating the model off-the pitch, selling players at their peak moments in further stages to #top4 and restart the cycle of recruiting another talented replacement. Which been very popular European model that followed at famous academies in likes of Ajax FC in Netherlands and KRC Genk in Belgium!
Such amounts not only enabled Al Ettifaq to become one of few SPL’s clubs that achieved an overall transfer-profit in the last 2 seasons, but also allow them to meet-up league massive requirements in elevating foreigner’s players quality recruitment.
Reflected by brilliant R.O.I benchmark in National Team quadrable (Saad Al Mousa and Faisal, Ahmed, Hamed Al Ghamdi) that staging club’s unique scouting system while all been recruited at the academy level, backed by additional strong monitoring of abroad Saudi youngsters (Ahmed Al Ghamdi from Pacific FC ‘Canada’ and Al Mousa from Manchester City academy). Later on, while all of them got produced at several National Team phases, and sold to Al-Ittihad separately between (2023-2025) for total of 35.5M€, without forgetting a 3M€ deal of current U20 NT forward transfer Thamer Al Khaibary to NEOM last summer.
Such amounts not only enabled Al Ettifaq to become one of few SPL’s clubs that achieved an overall transfer-profit in the last 2 seasons, but also allow them to meet-up league massive requirements in elevating foreigner’s players quality recruitment.
The Safe Hub for Local Players
Furthermore, the club’s expanded their professional national-focus recruitment to senior squad transfers that positioned them as safest-hub for local players, proven by signing 6 ex-national team players in the last 2 years 5 of them was part of the FIFA 2022 WC squad, beside existed opportunities to youngsters either from club academy in like of mentioned names or even from other clubs as Ziyad Al Ghamdi (U20 NT Starter) has joined on loan from Al Ahli, seeking for more playing minutes.
Coaching Methodology and Legacy
Extending local excellence to coaching methodology where the club introduced recent two continental age-groups champions for the country (2019 U-19 AFC Asian Cup-Khaled Al Atwi) and (2022 U23 AFC Asian Cup-The mastermind Saad Al-Shehri) who actively on charge. Leading club’s local strategy himself since middle of the last season, saved the club from series of bad results under Steven Gerrard management. Obtaining ‘Al Dahnaa Knight’ unique local distinction, as an extension of deep legacy of providing local heroes to Saudi Football, incepted since legendary Khalil Al Zayani ‘Coach’ and Saleh Khalifa ‘Starter 11’ of Saudi Arabia 1984 AFC Asian Cup Champions squad.
Extending local excellence to coaching methodology where the club introduced recent two continental age-groups champions for the country.
Vision 2030 Alignment
Such model is not only shapes brand values for the club, but also provide massive on-pitch benefits to the whole local eco-system in sense of applying #Vision2030 main principles at its finest, by staging local talents excellence across several levels in their core community eco-system ‘particularly Football in our case’.