In a strategic move aimed at securing the future of the first team and enhancing its long-term stability, Al-Hilal Saudi Club announced that its then-chairman, His Highness Prince Nawaf bin Saad, had signed professional contracts with 22 players from the under-21 youth team. This step included signing new contracts for a number of players and renewing the contracts of others, reflecting the club's insightful vision in building successive generations capable of carrying the banner of "The Leader".
General context and importance of investing in youth
This move comes as part of a long-standing policy of Al Hilal, a club historically renowned as a goldmine of footballing talent in Saudi Arabia. The club's academy and youth teams have consistently produced stars who have represented the first team and national teams with great distinction. This step, taken under the leadership of Prince Nawaf bin Saad, underscores the continuation of this approach, which focuses on investing in the club's internal assets rather than relying solely on external transfers, thus ensuring the club's financial and technical sustainability.
Expected impact on the local and Asian scene
Securing the future of such a large number of talented players with long-term professional contracts not only benefits the first team but also sends a strong message to rivals both domestically and continentally. Domestically, Al-Hilal guarantees strategic depth in its squad for years to come, enhancing its ability to compete strongly in all tournaments, such as the Saudi Professional League and the King's Cup. On the Asian stage, having a solid foundation of young players who have grown up within the club's philosophy provides the team with the technical stability necessary to compete in the AFC Champions League, a tournament that demands stamina and cohesion among the players.
Future Talent List
The list of players who were signed and renewed included promising names from whom much is expected in the future, namely: Samer Al-Naami, Ahmed Hamza, Louay Al-Obaidi, Mustafa Hassanein, Youssef Al-Sharari, Bader Heba, Ahmed Bin Hamid, Saad Al-Mutairi, Fahd Falatah, Ali Al-Mahdawi, Saud Haroun, Abdulaziz Jarmoush, Abdulaziz Bin Muammar, Khaled Al-Lahyan, Ibrahim Al-Hamlan, Abdullah Al-Zaid, Turki Al-Ghamil, Abdul-Ilah Al-Ghamdi, Saleh Barnawi, Ali Al Saeed, Rayan Al-Ghamdi, and Mohammed Al-Zaid.
This step comes at an important time as Al-Hilal prepares to continue its journey in major tournaments, giving the young players a huge morale boost and confirming to them that their efforts and development are of interest and appreciation to the management, and that the doors of the first team are open to them whenever they prove their worth.
