The 2025–26 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 69th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1957. The season began on 11 September 2025 and concluded with the play-off finals on 23 May 2026.
Overview Changes On 29 May 2024, the SAFF announced that foreign goalkeepers would not be allowed to play in the First Division League starting from the 2025–26 season.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2024–25 season.
To the First Division League Promoted from Second Division Al-Diriyah Al-Ula Al-Anwar
Relegated from Pro League Al-Wehda Al-Orobah Al-Raed
From the First Division League Promoted to Pro League Neom Al-Najma Al-Hazem
Relegated to Second Division Al-Ain Al-Safa Ohod
Teams A total of 18 teams will be contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2024–25 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Raed were the first team to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Damac on 11 May 2025. Al-Raed were relegated after 17 consecutive seasons in the flight. On 25 May 2025, Al-Orobah became the second team to be relegated after they were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Al-Nassr. Al-Orobah were relegated after one season in the top flight. Al-Wehda were the third and final club to be relegated, following a 2–1 away defeat to Al-Ettifaq on the final matchday. Al-Wehda were relegated after three seasons in the top flight. Al-Raed will play in their 17th season in the FD League, while Al-Orobah will play in their 16th season and Al-Wehda in their 10th season.
The first club to be promoted was Al-Diriyah who did so after a 1–0 away win against Jerash on 10 February 2025. On 14 March 2025, Al-Ula became the second club to be promoted following a 6–0 away win against Bisha. The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Anwar, who did so after defeating Al-Jeel 3–1 on penalties (1–1 after extra time) in the promotion play-off final.
Al-Diriyah were crowned champions for the second time after defeating Al-Ula 1–0 in the final.
Al-Diriyah return to the First Division League after an absence of three years. They return to the league for the first time since the 2021–22 season and will play in their 6th overall season. Both Al-Anwar and Al-Ula were promoted to the First Division League for the first time in history.
Stadium and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. Team Location Stadium CapacityAbhaAbhaAl-Mahalah StadiumDamac Club Stadium Al-AdalahAl-AhsaHofuf stadiumHajer Club StadiumAl-AnwarHotat Bani TamimAl-Anwar Club StadiumAl-Shoulla Club Stadium Al-ArabiUnaizahDepartment of Education StadiumAl-BatinHafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium Al-BukiryahAl-BukiryahAl-Bukiryah Club StadiumAl-DiriyahDiriyahPrince Turki bin Abdulaziz Stadium Al-FaisalyHarmahAl-Majma'ah Sports City Stadium Al-JabalainHailPrince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City StadiumAl-JandalDumat al-JandalAl-Jawf University Stadium Al-JubailJubailPrince Nayef Sports City Stadium Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Jawf University StadiumAl-Orobah Club StadiumAl-RaedBuraidahAl-Raed Club StadiumKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium BuraidahAl-TaiHailPrince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City StadiumAl-Ulaal-UlaPrince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Sports City Al-WehdaMeccaKing Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium Al-Zulfi Al-Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club StadiumJeddahJeddahAl-Faisal StadiumSports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor 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 Abha Abderrazek ChebbiEnd of contract1 June 2025Pre-season Damir Burić 1 August 2025 Al-Adalah Martin Ševela Mohamed Ayari 3 August 2025 Al-Batin Khalil Al-Masri Grégory Dufrennes 3 August 2025 Al-Diriyah Fabiano Flora Sabri Lamouchi 20 July 2025 Al-Faisaly Pablo Franco Giovanni Solinas 27 July 2025 Al-Jabalain Jorge Mendonça Ricardo Chéu 11 August 2025 Al-Jandal Ziyad Al-Afar Zoran Milinković 5 August 2025 Al-Jubail Khalid Al-Nuaimi Pedro Rodrigues 10 August 2025 Al-Orobah Antonio Cazorla Slavche Vojneski 1 August 2025 Al-Raed Krešimir Režić Jorge Mendonça 4 September 2025 Al-Tai Zdravko Logarušić Carlos Inarejos 14 July 2025 Al-Wehda José Daniel Carreño José Luis Sierra 1 September 2025 Jeddah Iván Carrasco Robertinho 13 August 2025 Al-Anwar Sultan KhamisResigned 25 July 2025 David Patrício 25 July 2025 Al-Tai Carlos Inarejos 6 October 2025 15th Khalil Al-Masri 8 October 2025 Al-Adalah Mohamed Ayari Sacked 29 October 2025 15th Abdulhadi Al-Abdullah (caretaker) 29 October 2025 Al-Wehda José Luis Sierra Mutual consent 6 November 2025 17th Mahmoud Abbas (caretaker) 6 November 2025 Al-Adalah Abdulhadi Al-Abdullah (caretaker) End of caretaker period 18 November 2025 15th Didier Gomes Da Rosa 18 November 2025 Al-Anwar David Patrício Sacked 24 November 2025 14th Abdullah Mohammed Al-Dawsari (caretaker) 24 November 2025Al-Batin Grégory Dufrennes Mutual consent 27 November 2025 17th Abdulaziz Nasser (caretaker) 27 November 2025 Abdulaziz Nasser (caretaker) End of caretaker period 1 December 2025 17th Paulo Alves 1 December 2025 Al-Zulfi Khalid Al-Koroni Mutual consent 2 December 2025 13th Habib Ben Romdhane 6 December 2025 Al-Jubail Pedro Rodrigues Sacked 4 December 2025 18th Khalid Al-Nuaimi 4 December 2025 Al-Arabi Kiko López 5 December 2025 14th Ghazi Ghrairi 11 December 2025 Al-Diriyah Sabri Lamouchi 6 December 2025 4th Alfred Schreuder 6 December 2025 Al-Anwar Abdullah Mohammed Al-Dawsari (caretaker)End of caretaker period 11 December 2025 12th Mohammed Adnan Ayoub 11 December 2025 Al-Wehda Mahmoud Abbas (caretaker) 15 December 2025 15th Rusmir Cviko 15 December 2025 Al-Jandal Zoran Milinković Mutual consent 29 December 2025 12th Abderrazek Chebbi 29 December 2025 Al-Ula Youssef Mannai Sacked 3 January 2026 4th José Peseiro 3 January 2026 Al-Tai Khalil Al-Masri Resigned 8 January 2026 11th Amine Zoubir (caretaker) 8 January 2026 Al-Batin Paulo AlvesSacked 20 January 2026 18th Henry Makinwa (caretaker) 20 January 2026Al-Raed Jorge Mendonça 5 February 2026 8th Rami El Hassan (caretaker) 5 February 2026 Rami El Hassan (caretaker) End of caretaker period 18 February 2026 8th Nacif Beyaoui 18 February 2026 Al-Bukiryah Leonardo RamosSacked 23 February 2026 8th Fabiano Flora 23 February 2026 Al-Arabi Ghazi Ghrairi 26 February 2026 16th Laurent Hagist 2 March 2026 Al-Adalah Didier Gomes Da Rosa 18 March 2026 15th Mohamed Mkacher 25 March 2026 Al-Batin Henry Makinwa (caretaker) End of caretaker period 26 April 2026 16th Maher Al-Shammari 26 April 2026
Foreign players The number of foreign players is limited to 5 players per team, in addition to two slots for U21 players (born in 2004 or after).
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.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 U21 player1(s) U21 player2(s) U21 player3(s) Former/unregistered players Abha Muralha Juriën Gaari Sylla Sow Afonso Taira Agi Dambelley Kamil Boumedmed Suleiman Bello Ahmed Jafeli Al-Adalah Achraf Boudrama Koffi Kouamé André Bukia Ranga Chivaviro Joshua Mutale Lucas Cunha Lucas Turci Kenneth Semakula Al-Anwar Rédha Bensayah Marlon Raykar Tiago Bezerra Appolinaire Kack Ricardo Caraballo Al-Arabi Solomon Udo Gislain Ahoudo Gatoch Panom Kwadwo Frimpong Amadou Ciss Abdul Karim Konate Bakary Touray Sheldon Vinícius Araújo Néicer Acosta Al-Batin Youssouf M'Changama Paul-José M'Poku Omar El Manssouri Simon Falette Abdoulay Diaby Isaías Rodríguez Samuel Sackey Ayman Berouas Al-Bukiryah Fernando Piñero Connor Pain Jonathan Moya Ousmane Barry Hicham Faik Amin Abu Khalifa Aremu Owolabi Al-Diriyah Georges-Kévin Nkoudou Gaëtan Laborde Omar Colley Moussa Marega Óscar Rodríguez Clayton Diandy Al-Faisaly Eduardo Henrique Morato Raphael Silva Romell Quioto Henrique Luvannor Mohamed Absi Ibrahima Ndiaye Al-Jabalain Eraldo Cinari Megue Cheikh Touré Diogo Queirós João Novais Mateus Tiago Guerra Al-Jandal Thibault Peyre Samba Camara Ayoub Lakhdar Anthony Okpotu Aitor López Kwame Bonsu Al-Jubail Roberto Dias Fayçal Fajr Zakaria Lahlali Ousseynou Thioune Wissem Chaouali Ença Fati Al-Orobah Aboubacar Doumbia Anass Najah Simy Darwin González Ahmed Hlila Abdulaziz Masnoum Al-Raed Yousri Bouzok Oumar Gonzalez Juanjo Narváez Karim Yoda Zinho Gano Pedro Brito Karim Ashraf Solomon Tweh Al-Tai Luis Haquín Jonata Machado Dino Halilović Törles Knöll Omar El Hanoudi Al-Ula Cristian Guanca Danilo Barbosa Michael Efthymis Koulouris Matija Nastasić Salem Ayyash Adama Traoré Al-Wehda Farouk Chafaï Mehdi Boudjemaa Ali Adnan Kadhim Demba Diallo Bjørn Maars Johnsen Hazem Ismail Augustine Oladapo Ablaye Mbengue Agi Dambelley Al-Zulfi Diego Miranda Léo Tilica Housseine Zakouani Ben Malango Hamza Barry Anthony Gomez Sulayman Jawla Abdeljalil Medioub Eric Johana Omondi Lanre Kehinde Jeddah Walmerson Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana Giorgi Aburjania Kennedy Amutenya Faisal Othman Moamed Rajeh
League table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve 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
Promotion play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Scoring Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Sylla SowAbha27 SimyAl-Orobah3 Gaëtan LabordeAl-Diriyah264 Zinho GanoAl-Raed245 Efthymis KoulourisAl-Ula226 Henrique LuvannorAl-Faisaly217 Moussa MaregaAl-Diriyah19 Cheikh TouréAl-Jabalain9 Törles KnöllAl-Tai1710 Cristian GuancaAl-Ula14 João NovaisAl-Jabalain
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Zinho Gano Al-Raed Al-Adalah 4–4 (A) Gaëtan Laborde Al-Diriyah Al-Adalah 3–1 (H) Simy Al-Orobah Al-Adalah 4–1 (A) Simy Al-Orobah Al-Diriyah 3–3 (H) Efthymis Koulouris Al-Ula Al-Jandal 5–1 (H) Tiago Bezerra Al-Anwar Al-Adalah 4–1 (H) Jonathan Moya Al-Bukiryah Al-Batin 5–1 (H) Zinho Gano Al-Raed Al-Adalah 6–3 (H) Simy Al-Orobah Al-Tai 3–1 (A) Gaëtan Laborde Al-Diriyah Jeddah 5–0 (A) Ben Malango Al-Zulfi Al-Arabi 4–1 (A) Zinho Gano Al-Raed Abha 5-1 (H)
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Mohammed Al-HassawiAl-Faisaly132 Mohammed Al-OwaisAl-Ula123 Abdullah Al-JadaaniAbha11 Mohammed Al-WakedAl-Jabalain5 Waleed AbdullahAl-Diriyah8 Jassem Al-AshbanAl-Orobah7 Saad Al-SalehAl-Zulfi78 Abdulrahman DagririAl-Tai69 Bader Al-EneziAl-Bukiryah5 Yasser Al-MosailemJeddah Saleh Al-OhaymidAl-Raed
Number of teams by province RankProvinceNumber Teams1Riyadh4Al-Anwar, Al-Diriyah, Al-Faisaly, and Al-Zulfi2Al-Qassim3Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, and Al-RaedEastern ProvinceAl-Adalah, Al-Batin, and Al-Jubail4Al-Jawf2Al-Jandal and Al-OrobahHa'ilAl-Jabalain and Al-TaiMeccaAl-Wehda and Jeddah7Asir1AbhaMedinaAl-Ula
See also 2025–26 Saudi Pro League 2025–26 Saudi Second Division League 2025–26 Saudi Third Division
References