Saudi Gazette report
LENS, France — Saudi Arabia worldwide right-back Saud Abdulhamid has joined Ligue 1 facet RC Lens on a season-long mortgage from AS Roma, with an possibility to purchase, turning into the primary Saudi participant to function in France’s prime flight.
The 26-year-old arrives after a yr in Italy, the place he turned the primary Saudi to play in Serie A and made appearances in each the league and UEFA Europa League.
He beforehand loved a adorned home profession with Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, profitable a number of Saudi Professional League titles, King’s Cups, and reaching the AFC Champions League semifinals.
A product of Al-Ittihad’s academy in his hometown of Jeddah, Abdulhamid made his skilled debut in 2018 and rapidly established himself as one of many Kingdom’s most constant full-backs.
His performances earned him a transfer to Al-Hilal in 2022, the place he performed a pivotal position of their home dominance and memorable 2023 FIFA Membership World Cup marketing campaign, which included a victory over Manchester Metropolis.
Internationally capped 38 instances, Abdulhamid represented Saudi Arabia on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, beginning in all three group-stage matches, together with the historic 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina.
RC Lens sporting director Jean-Louis Leca praised the signing, citing Abdulhamid’s “dynamism, explosiveness and combativeness” as splendid for the membership’s high-intensity type.
“He matches completely into our three-at-the-back system, provides high quality supply from vast areas, and may contribute each in possession and on the counterattack,” Leca mentioned.
Abdulhamid will put on the No. 23 shirt and goals to adapt rapidly to Ligue 1, bringing each his expertise in Asian soccer and his European publicity in Italy to Pierre Sage’s squad.
