Seven super Saudis who excelled in 2024-25 RSL | OneFootball

The end of another Roshn Saudi League season brings with it the ideal time for reflection.

The backbone of the league has always been the local Saudi Arabian players, and this campaign was no different with local stars right across the league providing stellar performances.

With that in mind, we shine a light on seven of the best this season - outside of RSL award winner and Saudi standout Salem Al Dawsari - who shone brightest of all.

Musab Al Juwayr

One of the undisputed stars of 2024-25 RSL was Al Shabab’s Al Juwayr. The 21-year-old, on loan from Al Hilal, had a breakout season for the Riyadh club with five goals and 10 assists, making it by far his most prolific campaign to date.

Despite his tender age, Al Juwayr became an integral part of Fatih Terim’s side, capable of playing on the right or drifting inside centrally and proved to be one of the league’s most dangerous creative weapons.

He also dominated the Young Player of the Month award, completing an unprecedented clean sweep by taking home the award each time it was on offer. It concluded with Al Juwayr being named last week the 2024-25 RSL’s Best Young Player in the end-of-season awards.

Abdullah Al Salem

Few could’ve predicted the season 32-year-old Al Salem would have with Al Khaleej.

The journeyman striker has played all around the country, and now back at his boyhood club, there were modest expectations on a striker who had scored four goals in the past two RSL campaigns.

However, Al Salem reinvented himself under manager Georgios Donis and finished the season as the second-highest Saudi goalscorer in the league, behind only Salem Al Dawsari, with 10 goals – he also added four assists.

So good was his form, in fact, that Al Salem was rewarded with a debut national team call-up by Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard.

Abdullah Al Salem (R) celebrates goal for Al Khaleej v Al Fateh

For more about Al Salem's rise this season, read this...

Saad Al Mousa

Every championship-winning side is built on the back of a solid defence, and that was certainly the case for Al Ittihad this season, who concluded the campaign with the second-best defensive record - behind only Al Qadsiah.

A large part of that was because of the form of Al Mousa, the Saudi centre-back who was superb at the heart of the team’s defence, largely alongside summer signing Danilo Pereira.

Only 22, Al Mousa made his move to Al Ittihad permanent before the start of this season; he more than justified the faith shown in him by manager Laurent Blanc.

Saad Al Mousa (R) has been a rock at the back for Al Ittihad

Discover here how Al Mousa and his compatriot duo helped Al Ittihad to RSL title...

Ayman Yahya

The stocky winger is another to have a breakout season this campaign, showing the type of form that had made him such an exciting commodity at age-level football.

Having been named the MVP at the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup, which Saudi Arabia won, Yahya has always attracted plenty of hype and excitement because of his potential - and he came to realise some of that through the 2024-25 RSL.

Five goals and three assists marks the midfielder’s best return in a single top-flight season, while he contributed to the improved form of Al Nassr across the final few months as they finished third and booked a spot in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two.

Ayman Yahya celebrates goal for Al Nassr v Al Ettifaq

Jehad Thikri

In his first full season at this level, Thikri thrived alongside former Real Madrid captain Nacho in the centre of the Al Qadsiah defence upon their return to the RSL.

The 23-year-old earned the confidence of manager Michel through a series of assured performances, that not only made him indispensable at Al Qadsiah, but also earned him his first national-team selection.

Having also impressed Renard at international level, the Al Khobar native looks set for a big future on the back of his emergent season where he ranked second for clearances at Al Qadsiah, behind only his mentor, Nacho.

For more on what makes Thikri a young star to watch, check here...

Ziyad Al Johani

Given his slight frame, it would be easy to look past Al Johani in the heart of the Al Ahli midfield, but his performances make him hard to ignore.

Largely playing alongside Franck Kessie, the Ivorian takes most of the limelight, with 23-year-old Al Johani preferring to operate largely in the shadows, letting others take the headlines.

But his performances in the final games of Al Ahli’s historic AFC Champions League Elite title success make Al Johani impossible to ignore. Rightfully, he is another to have recently earned their debut with the senior national team.

Ziyad Al Johani (R) and Franck Kessie have been brilliant in the Al Ahli engine room

Get the reaction to Al Ahli's incredible Asian success here...

Nawaf Al Aqidi

After struggling for consistent game-time at Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia’s No.1 goalkeeper made the move to Al Fateh on loan in January - and it was a move that worked wonders for both club and player.

With the Al Ahsa side struggling at the foot of the table, they faced an uphill battle to survive the drop, but that is exactly what they did after a stunning second half of the season.

Key to that was the form of Al Aqidi between the sticks: the supreme shot-stopper kept keeping two important clean sheets and made 61 saves as Al Fateh stormed up the table to finish 10th.

Check out our deep-dive into Al Aqidi's emergence as Saudi No.1 here...