About Saudi Professional League (SPL)

The Saudi Professional League (SPL), also known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) for sponsorship reasons, is Saudi Arabia’s professional football league and the top tier of the Saudi football league system. Recognized as one of Asia’s premier football leagues, the SPL holds the highest ranking in AFC club competitions. It is organized by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and held annually.

Historical Origins and Evolution

The origins of Saudi Arabia’s top-tier league date back to the establishment of His Majesty the King's League in 1956, which ran until 1974. It was followed by a transitional season called the 1974–75 Saudi Classification League. The first official season of the Saudi top-flight league then kicked off in 1976–77. From its inaugural season until 1989–90, the league operated on a round-robin format. Subsequently, the Saudi Football Federation decided to merge the football league with the King’s Cup into a single competition, introducing the Golden Box—a season-ending knockout tournament featuring the top four teams from the regular league. These teams competed in semi-finals to determine Saudi Arabia’s champion. The league reverted to a round-robin format in the 2007–08 season and was officially renamed the Saudi Professional League in 2008. While the SPL evolved from earlier Saudi top-tier league formats, its statistics and records are maintained separately, similar to how the English Premier League is distinguished from the former Football League First Division.

Key Developments

Football in Saudi Arabia initially took the form of regional championships starting in the 1950s. In 1975, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation decided to organize a nationwide football competition. In 1991, Al Hilal SFC became the first Saudi Arabian team to win an Asian title. The Saudi league officially professionalized in 2008. In 2016, the Saudi Arabian government launched its Vision 2030 initiative, after which Saudi league clubs began large-scale signings, targeting world-class footballers. On December 31, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his move to Al Nassr SFC. In June 2023, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad FC, while N'Golo Kanté signed with the same club as a free agent. In August 2023, Neymar transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Al Hilal SFC for a €90 million fee, with an annual salary of €100 million. Additionally, several key players from Europe’s top five leagues, including Fabinho, Aymeric Laporte, Rubén Neves, and Otávio, moved to the Saudi league.

Legacy and Current Status

Al Hilal SFC is the most successful club in Saudi football history, with a record 19 titles, most recently winning the 2023–24 season. Other prominent clubs such as Al Shabab, Al Ittihad, and Al Nassr have also contributed significantly to the league’s history. Since 2023, driven by strategic development under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, the SPL has gained greater global recognition. The country’s Public Investment Fund acquired 75% stakes in four foundational clubs—Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, and Al Nassr—investing heavily to bring players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema to the league. These efforts have elevated the SPL’s status in world football.

As of May 2025, Al Hilal SFC tops the all-time Saudi league title list with 19 championships, followed by Al Ittihad FC with 10 titles.