The 2023–24 Saudi Pro League (known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons) was the 49th edition of the top-tier Saudi football league, established in 1974, and the 16th edition since it was rebranded as the Saudi Pro League in 2008, Fixtures for the 2023–24 season were announced on 15 July 2023.
Al-Ittihad were the defending champions after winning their 9th title last season. Al-Ahli, Al-Hazem, Al-Okhdood, and Al-Riyadh join as the four promoted clubs. They replaced Al-Adalah and Al-Batin who were relegated to the 2023–24 Yelo League. The league now had 18 teams for the first time as opposed to the 16 teams of prior seasons.
On 11 May, Al-Hilal secured their record-extending nineteenth league title, with three games to spare, following a 4–1 away win against Al-Hazem, and then they completed the unbeaten season 16 days later. Coincidentally, Al-Hazem were the first team to be relegated following that 4–1 home defeat. In the final matchday, both Abha and Al-Tai were relegated following defeats to Al-Hazem and Al-Okhdood respectively.
Overview Changes On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams would increase to 18 starting from the 2023–24 season. Therefore, only two teams would be relegated from the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League instead of the usual three, and four teams would be promoted from the 2022–23 Saudi First Division League.
In June 2023, the Public Investment Fund acquired a 75% stake in Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr.
Record This season had the highest attendance in the SPL history, with 2,496,510 fans attending the matches.
Teams
18 teams competed in the league – the top 14 teams from the previous season and the 4 teams promoted from the FD League.
Teams who were promoted to the Pro League
On 5 May 2023, Al-Ahli became the first team to be promoted, following Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Najran. They were crowned champions following a 1–0 win against Al-Qadsiah on 23 May 2023. Al-Ahli played in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence and played in their 47th season in the top flight.
The second club to be promoted was Al-Okhdood, who were promoted after Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Jeddah on 15 May 2023. Al-Okhdood played in the top flight of Saudi football for the first time in history. Al-Okhdood became the 37th side to participate in the Saudi Pro League since its inception.
The third club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh, who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Orobah on 16 May 2023. Al-Riyadh returned to the top flight for the first time since getting relegated in the 2004–05 season. Al-Riyadh played in their 24th season in the top flight.
The fourth and final club to be promoted was Al-Hazem, who were promoted following a 3–2 win against Al-Sahel on 17 May 2023. Al-Hazem played in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence and played in their 10th season in the top flight.
Teams who were relegated to the FD League
Al-Batin were the first club to be relegated, following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Ittihad on 23 May 2023. Al-Batin were relegated after three years in the top flight.
Al-Adalah were the second and final club to be relegated, following a 2–0 home defeat to Al-Ettifaq on the final matchday. Al-Adalah were relegated after just one year in the top flight.
Stadiums Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. Team Location Stadium Capacity Abha Abha Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Al-Ahli Jeddah King Abdullah Sports City Al-Ettifaq Dammam Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium Al-Fateh Al-Mubarraz Al-Fateh Stadium Al-Fayha Al Majma'ah Al Majma'ah Sports City Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium Al-Hilal Riyadh Kingdom Arena Al-Ittihad Jeddah King Abdullah Sports City Al-Khaleej Saihat Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium Al-Nassr Riyadh Al-Awwal Park Al-Okhdood Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sports City Al-Raed Buraidah King Abdullah Sport City Stadium Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Al-Shabab Riyadh Al-Shabab Club Stadium Al-Taawoun Buraidah King Abdullah Sport City StadiumAl-Taawoun Club Stadium Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium Al-Wehda Mecca King Abdul Aziz Stadium Damac Khamis Mushait Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Damac Club Stadium
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Vítor Pereira 1 On the back of the strip. 2 On the right sleeve of the strip. 3 On the shorts.
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointment Al-Ettifaq Antonio Cazorla (caretaker)End of caretaker period1 June 2023Pre-season Steven Gerrard 3 July 2023 Al-Hilal Emiliano Díaz (caretaker) Jorge Jesus 1 July 2023 Al-Nassr Dinko Jeličić (caretaker) Luís Castro 6 July 2023 Al-Tai José Pedro Barreto (caretaker) Krešimir Režić 1 June 2023 Abha Roel CoumansEnd of contract Czesław Michniewicz 12 June 2023 Al-Ahli Pitso Mosimane Matthias Jaissle 28 July 2023 Al-Fateh Georgios Donis Slaven Bilić 8 July 2023 Al-Raed Marius Șumudică Igor Jovićević 9 July 2023 Al-Riyadh Damir Burić Yannick Ferrera 6 June 2023 Al-Shabab Vicente Moreno Marcel Keizer 27 July 2023 Al-Wehda José Luis Sierra Georgios Donis 11 July 2023 Al-Shabab Marcel Keizer Mutual consent 6 September 202317th Juan Brown (caretaker) 6 September 2023 Al-Riyadh Yannick FerreraSacked 20 September 202316th Bandar Al-Kubaishan (caretaker) 20 September 2023 Al-Tai Krešimir Režić 25 September 202312th Laurențiu Reghecampf 25 September 2023 Abha Czesław Michniewicz 1 October 202316th George Timis (caretaker) 1 October 2023 Al-Riyadh Bandar Al-Kubaishan (caretaker)End of caretaker period 8 October 202313th Odair Hellmann 8 October 2023 Abha George Timis (caretaker) 9 October 202315th Yousef Al Mannai 9 October 2023 Al-Shabab Juan Brown (caretaker) 18 October 202312th Igor Bišćan 18 October 2023 Al-Hazem Filipe Gouveia Mutual consent 20 October 202318th José Daniel Carreño 20 October 2023 Al-Ittihad Nuno Espírito SantoSacked 8 November 20236th Hassan Khalifa (caretaker) 8 November 2023 Al-Okhdood Jorge Mendonca 10 November 202316th Martin Ševela 10 November 2023 Al-Ittihad Hassan Khalifa (caretaker) End of caretaker period 18 November 20235th Marcelo Gallardo 18 November 2023 Abha Yousef Al MannaiSacked 17 December 202316th George Timis (caretaker) 17 December 2023 Al-Shabab Igor Bišćan 27 December 202313th Vítor Pereira 5 February 2024 Abha George Timis (caretaker) End of caretaker period 26 January 202417th Pitso Mosimane 26 January 2024 Al-Tai Laurențiu Reghecampf Sacked 4 April 202416th Cristinel Țermure (caretaker) 4 April 2024 Cristinel Țermure (caretaker) End of caretaker period 15 April 202417th Leonardo Ramos 15 April 2024 Al-Okhdood Martin ŠevelaMutual consent 17 April 202416th Noureddine Zekri 17 April 2024 Al-Hazem José Daniel Carreño 19 April 202418th Saleh Al-Mohammadi 19 April 2024
Foreign players Clubs can register a total of eight foreign players over the course of the season. Before the summer transfer window closed, there is no foreigners limit. The definitive list of the eight foreign players will be available at the end of the summer transfer window.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window. Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance. Players from other countries who were born in Saudi Arabia are counted as homegrown/local players.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Players born in Saudi Arabia Unregistered players Former players Abha Fabián Noguera Marcel Tisserand François Kamano Luka Đorđević Grzegorz Krychowiak Ciprian Tătărușanu Uroš Matić Saad Bguir Ahmed Abdu Jaber Karl Toko Ekambi Devis Epassy Saad Natiq Al-Ahli Riyad Mahrez Roberto Firmino Roger Ibañez Allan Saint-Maximin Franck Kessié Édouard Mendy Gabri Veiga Merih Demiral Modou Barrow Ezgjan Alioski Ryad Boudebouz Al-Ettifaq Paulo Victor Karl Toko Ekambi Moussa Dembélé Seko Fofana Demarai Gray Georginio Wijnaldum Jack Hendry Álvaro Medrán Robin Quaison Vitinho Marcel Tisserand Jordan Henderson Al-Fateh Sofiane Bendebka Lucas Zelarayán Jason Denayer Djaniny Mourad Batna Marwane Saâdane Cristian Tello Jacob Rinne Jordan Harrison Petros Al-Fayha Gojko Cimirot Ricardo Ryller Ghislain Konan Abdelhamid Sabiri Anthony Nwakaeme Henry Onyekuru Vladimir Stojković Fashion Sakala Milan Pavkov Víctor Ruiz Al-Hazem Paulo Ricardo Bruno Viana Vina Faïz Selemani Muhammed Badamosi Tozé Aymen Dahmen Júnior Moreno Ben Hassan Traoré Al-Hilal Renan Lodi Malcom Michael Yassine Bounou Rúben Neves Kalidou Koulibaly Sergej Milinković-Savić Aleksandar Mitrović Neymar Al-Ittihad Fabinho Romarinho Ahmed Hegazi Karim Benzema N'Golo Kanté Luiz Felipe Abderrazak Hamdallah Jota Salem Ayyash Marcelo Grohe Igor Coronado Al-Khaleej Lisandro López Ibrahim Šehić Mohamed Sherif Fábio Martins Pedro Rebocho Ivo Rodrigues Jung Woo-young Khaled Narey Mo Adams Al-Nassr Talisca Alex Telles David Ospina Marcelo Brozović Otávio Cristiano Ronaldo Sadio Mané Aymeric Laporte Aziz Behich Seko Fofana Al-Okhdood Paulo Vítor Léandre Tawamba Sebastián Pedroza Solomon Kvirkvelia Saviour Godwin Andrei Burcă Florin Tănase Álex Collado Ahmed Mostafa Al-Raed Amir Sayoud Oumar Gonzalez Júlio Tavares Karim El Berkaoui Mohamed Fouzair Mathias Normann André Moreira Mamadou Loum Bassam Hamoud Al-Riyadh Dino Arslanagić Didier Ndong Andre Gray Birama Touré Alin Toșca Martín Campaña Knowledge Musona Juanmi Al-Shabab Yannick Carrasco Carlos Júnior Iago Santos Vitinho Gustavo Cuéllar Ivan Rakitić Romain Saïss Habib Diallo Kim Seung-gyu Éver Banega Al-Taawoun Cristian Guanca Flávio Andrei Girotto Mailson Mateus João Pedro Musa Barrow Aschraf El Mahdioui Rayan Fourgi Álvaro Medrán Al-Tai Victor Braga Enzo Roco Marko Dugandžić Robert Bauer Bernard Mensah Alfa Semedo Andrei Cordea Virgil Misidjan Al-Wehda Craig Goodwin Anselmo Óscar Duarte Jawad El Yamiq Fayçal Fajr Munir Mohamedi Vito van Crooij Odion Ighalo Abdulaziz Noor Damac Abdelkader Bedrane Farouk Chafaï Moustapha Zeghba Georges-Kévin Nkoudou Domagoj Antolić Tarek Hamed Assan Ceesay Nicolae Stanciu Adam Maher
League table
Positions by round The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.
Results
Season statistics Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Cristiano RonaldoAl-Nassr352 Aleksandar MitrovićAl-Hilal283 Abderrazak HamdallahAl-Ittihad 19 Fashion SakalaAl-Fayha5 Firas Al-BuraikanAl-Fateh/Al-Ahli176 TaliscaAl-Nassr167 MalcomAl-Hilal15 Georges-Kévin NkoudouDamac Odion IghaloAl-Wehda10 Bernard MensahAl-Tai14 Salem Al-DawsariAl-Hilal
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Roberto Firmino Al-Ahli Al-Hazem 3–1 (H) Malcom Al-Hilal Abha 3–1 (A) Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr Al-Fateh 5–0 (A) Aleksandar Mitrović Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad 4–3 (A) Odion Ighalo Al-Wehda Damac 4–2 (H) Bernard Mensah Al-Tai Al-Ettifaq 3–4 (A) Cristian Tello Al-Fateh Al-Wehda 5–1 (H) Karim Benzema Al-Ittihad Abha 4–2 (H) Malcom Al-Hilal Al Hazem 9–0 (A) Odion Ighalo Al-Wehda Al-Khaleej 3–1 (H) Georges-Kévin Nkoudou Damac Abha 4–2 (H) Sergej Milinković-Savić Al-Hilal Abha 7–0 (H) Talisca Al-Nassr Al Hazem 4–4 (H) Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr Al-Tai 5–1 (H) Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr Abha 8–0 (A) Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr Al-Wehda 6–0 (H) Karl Toko Ekambi Al-Ettifaq Al-Ittihad 5–0 (A) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Most assists