Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — U.S.-based Harbinger Group has formally develop into the primary international proprietor of a Saudi Professional League membership after finishing a full acquisition of Al-Kholood FC, the Ministry of Sports activities introduced. The transfer indicators a brand new period of worldwide funding in Saudi soccer.
In an announcement, Harbinger Group confirmed it had acquired 100% possession of the membership based mostly in Al-Rass, which completed ninth within the 2024–25 Saudi Professional League season.
The Ministry additionally revealed that two different golf equipment — Al-Ansar and Al-Zulfi — have been efficiently privatized and transferred to new buyers as a part of Saudi Arabia’s broader sports activities privatization technique.
Ben Harburg, the founder and managing associate of Harbinger Group, stated the acquisition of Al-Kholood was a “great honor,” positioning the group as the primary international entity to completely personal a top-tier Saudi soccer membership.
“We’re on the cusp of extraordinary progress beneath Saudi Arabia’s Imaginative and prescient 2030, particularly with the Kingdom internet hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034,” Harburg stated in a video assertion shared by the Ministry.
“We consider soccer gamers are Saudi Arabia’s biggest export to come back.”
On their journey to buying Al-Kholood Membership
Ben Harburg and Brian Wright Vias communicate :
— Ministry of Sport (@mosgovsa_en) July 24, 2025
“Throughout our due diligence course of, we reviewed a number of golf equipment, however Al-Kholood stood out because of its robust trajectory, passionate fanbase, and the dynamic Al-Qassim area.”
Brian Wright Vias, a senior member of Harbinger, described the acquisition as each a privilege and an awesome accountability.
“We’re grateful to the Ministry of Sports activities and to the Saudi folks for this chance,” he stated.
“Our purpose is to not purchase world stars, however to develop them — to construct Saudi expertise and make them world exports.”
Not like the Kingdom’s 4 elite golf equipment — Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli — that are majority-owned by the Public Funding Fund (PIF) and have attracted world-class gamers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar, Al-Kholood at the moment doesn’t area world superstars. However the brand new house owners consider in long-term growth.
This milestone is a part of the Saudi Ministry of Sports activities’ privatization initiative, in collaboration with the Nationwide Middle for Privatization.
This system goals to foster personal sector participation and allow golf equipment to develop into financially sustainable, talent-driven entities that contribute to the rising sports activities ecosystem.
Since 2022, Saudi Arabia has considerably ramped up its funding in soccer, highlighted by Ronaldo’s record-setting arrival and a wave of worldwide signings, sponsorships, and world tournaments hosted throughout the Kingdom — from Method 1 and LIV Golf to boxing, MotoGP, and the Spanish and Italian Tremendous Cups.
With the privatization of Al-Kholood, Al-Ansar, and Al-Zulfi, Saudi Arabia has taken a serious step ahead in reworking its home soccer panorama and welcoming worldwide partnerships as a part of Imaginative and prescient 2030’s sports activities transformation objectives.
