The stereotype that players only move to the Middle East from Europe for money has been blown apart by this bunch of Saudi Professional League stars.
All headed to the Kingdom in recent seasons – and all have left their mark on a burgeoning competition.
This is the list of the 10 that have made the biggest impact in 2019/20, utilising statistics from Wyscout and SofaScore.com:
KARIM EL AHMADI (AL ITTIHAD)
Karim El Ahmadi (EPA).
El Ahmadi has been a beacon during another troubled campaign for Ittihad.
Many wondered whether the ex-Twente, Feyenoord, Al Ahli and Aston Villa battler still had the legs to compete when snapped up on a free transfer in July 2018.
Age has, however, not detracted from the Netherlands-born, Morocco international’s competitive edge. The 35-year-old leads the way for defensive duels (256) and has committed the fifth-most fouls (44).
Highlights include 12 interceptions in January’s 1-1 draw at in-form Al Raed, plus twice recording more than 20 defensive duels in January’s 1-1 stalemate at champions Al Nassr (15 won from 22) and September’s 3-1 defeat to leaders Al Hilal (12 won from 21).
It is an ominous thought where the fourth-bottom Jeddah giants would be without him.
NORDIN AMRABAT (AL NASSR)
Nordin Amrabat (EPA).
Is there a better traditional winger operating in Asian football?
Amrabat, 33, performs an intrinsic role in Rui Vitoria’s game plan for the holders. He, simply, beats his man and delivers a flurry of punishing centres to 2019’s global top scorer – and fellow Moroccan – Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Staggering statistic have been recorded this term. The ex-PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray and Watford wide man has put in 223 crosses – 117 more than second-placed Heldon Ramos of Al Taawoun.
An even-greater lead has been registered for dribbles. Amrabat’s staggering tally of 312 dribbles from 22 top-flight run-outs is 137 more than second-placed Gustav Wikheim of lowly Al Fateh.
This combination has helped him sit joint-second in the assists chart on eight.
GIULIANO (AL NASSR)
Giuliano (EPA).
Brazil playmaker Giuliano rarely sticks in one place for long.
The 29-year-old’s short bursts and tight dribbling on the pitch have been replicated by a journeyed career that has taken him from homeland (Parana, Internacional and Gremio) to Ukraine (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Russia (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Turkey (Fenerbahce) and now Saudi Arabia. Nassr will hope he wants to stick around in the capital.
Giuliano is, unquestionably, a master of midfield. This ability to perfectly time charges forward was apparent in all three matches before the pause; sweeping home from the edge of the penalty box against Al Raed, following up his own shot to slot in at the second attempt at Al Faisaly and an emphatic volley versus Al Ahli Jeddah.
Figures of eight goals and five assists were registered in 2018/19’s fine debut. To showcase a continued improvement, he’s netted the same time and notched one less assist in 20 matches this season.
BAFETIMBI GOMIS (AL HILAL)
Bafetimbi Gomis (EPA).
The ‘Lion King’ has continued to roar.
Gomis, 34, has produced the second-best combined goals and assists tally of 20, featuring 14 goals and three assists. The ex-France centre forward’s goals-per-minute ratio in the SPL, furthermore, has also improved from 2018/19’s 121.4 to 2019/20’s 103.4.
A place in Hilal’s annals was also secured by the final goal in November’s 3-0 AFC Champions League finals rout of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. This triumph ended a pained 19-year wait to be crowned Asian kings once more.
Gomis’ continued impact ensure fevered speculation and anguish has followed protracted talks about a contract extension to the two-year deal signed upon arrival from Galatasaray in August 2018.
Gomis is not impervious to the ravages of time. A four-match scoreless run in all competitions before last month’s stoppage featured zero goals, four attempts and just one of which was on target.
His stature, however, commands respect.
YOUSSEF EL JEBLI (AL FAISALY)
Youssef El Jebli (EPA).
Management at Faisaly deserve a round of applause for unearthing El Jebli.
The unheralded playmaker from the Eredivisie has proven a revelation, producing a leading nine assists in 21 SPL run-outs. When these assists are added to a strong tally of six goals, this means the Utrecht-born player contributes directly to 50 per cent of his employers’ 30 strikes.
This is the difference between the mundanity of mid-table and Faisaly’s current fifth-placed positioning.
The 27-year-old’s unorthodox – and opportune – volley last-time out in the 2-2 draw versus Al Hazem exhibited all his gifts.
BRAD JONES (AL NASSR)
Brad Jones (EPA).
Amid an excellent goalkeeping pool in the SPL, one stands apart.
Jones, 38, has presented consistent excellence as the last line of defences for the division’s stingiest side. The ex-Australia international’s 10 clean sheets, alongside club-mate Maicon, is the class of the field.
Credit, of course, must go to a rearguard that has ensured Jones’ shots-faced-per-90-minutes ratio of 2.34 is the competition’s lowest. But he is not a passive passer-by.
Jones’ successful nine run-outs from nine attempts is the SPL’s second best, while 12 punches is the third most.
Pedigree as a former employee of Liverpool and Feyenoord shot stopper is undeniable.
MAICON (AL NASSR)
Maicon (EPA).
A rock at the back has helped Nassr cling on in the title race.
Maicon, 31, has been a key cog domestically for Al Aalami (The International) since an 18-month loan deal was inked from Galatasaray in February 2019. This importance has ramped up for 2019/20.
The Brazilian centre-back’s 10 clean sheets is the most in the SPL, alongside team-mate Brad Jones. This defensive wall, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Madu or Omar Hawsawi, has ensured Nassr boast the meanest defence with only 16 conceded in 22 fixtures.
Negotiations remain open to secure the ex-Porto defender on a permanent deal, even though he was overlooked for 2020’s AFC Champions League squad. A sticking point remains the fee, Fotospor reporting that a €3.5 million bid is €1.5m short of the Turkish heavyweight’s asking price.
YOUSSOUF NIAKATE (AL WEHDA)
Youssouf Niakate (EPA).
Did anyone undertake smarter business than Wehda last summer?
At the forefront of a rise to third for last term’s seventh-placed finishers has been Niakate. Something was spotted in a forward who’d experienced a, reasonably, unremarkable career to date in France and Belgium’s lower leagues.
The €2m sent Union Saint Gilloise’s way last July already has been made to look cheap by consistently exceptional displays. Niakate is a force of nature in possession, capable of advancing Wehda far up the pitch.
He also stands on the shoulder of the last defender, waiting for Brazilians Anselmo and Luis Gustavo to pick out his runs. This has led to a joint-high 19 offsides, though coach Jose Daniel Carreno will not be too perturbed when his striker is the SPL’s fourth-best scorer on 12.
HELDON RAMOS (AL TAAWOUN)
Heldon Ramos (EPA).
Frustrations caused by an intermittent stay at Sporting Lisbon have ebbed away in the Kingdom for Heldon.
The Cape Verde winger’s big move to the capital in 2014 ended in a series of loan moves. A home has, however, been found since July 2018’s switch to Al Taawoun.
Heldon has been one of this season’s strongest performers, contributing six goals and six assists in 21 SPL starts. Taawoun’s left-hand side has sung a tune for the second-successive season, with the equally impressing Nildo Petrolina backing him up from wing-back in a three-man or four-man defence.
Heldon sits second for crosses with 106 put in, while his direct running attributes for the eighth-most dribbles at 117.
Taawoun cannot repeat 2018/19’s historic King’s Cup success and third-placed finish. But their star wide man, Heldon, has not allowed his standards to slip.
IGOR ROSSI (AL FAISALY)
Igor Rossi (EPA).
Rossi has been a superb addition to the SPL ever since he swapped Edinburgh for Harmah City.
January 2017’s deal witnessed Hearts lose a leader of men and outstanding centre-back. 2019/20 has witnessed the 31-year-old, further, grow into one of the division’s best defenders.
Rossi’s 175 interceptions is unmatched, while inspirational bravery puts him joint-second for blocks (19).
Opposition defences also quake when set-pieces are swung into the Brazilian. All four of his top-flight goals this term are headers from dead balls, including one in March’s famous 3-2 downing of champions Nassr.
