Saud Abdulhamid makes history in Serie A with AS Roma | OneFootball

Saudi Arabia international Saud Abdulhamid created another slice of history on Sunday night, when he became the first player from the Kingdom to play in Italy’s top division.

Abdulhamid, 25, had already etched his name into the record books in August by transferring from Roshn Saudi League champions Al Hilal to AS Roma in Serie A. The move saw Abdulhamid become the first footballer from country to sign permanently for a team in one of Europe’s traditional top-five leagues.

The two-time Saudi champion, a regular for his national team, had featured twice for Roma in the UEFA Europa League, but on Sunday he finally made his Italian top-flight debut as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Napoli. Abdulhamid was introduced in the 78th minute at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, replacing Turkiye international Mehmet Zeki Celik.

The right-back, an integral part of the Al Hilal side who lifted both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 RSL title, made his official bow for Roma in September, coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 UEFA Europa League draw at home to Spain’s Athletic Bilbao. Last month, he started a match for the first time, beginning the 1-0 defeat to IF Elfsborg in the same competition.

Roma next face English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in London on Thursday, with Abdulhamid no doubt hoping he impressed new manager Claudio Ranieri enough to again feature.