Al Kholood is drawing fresh attention from the foreign press as the club works to carve out a long-term place in the Saudi Pro League, with Reuters highlighting its plans under American sports investor Ben Harburg. Rather than chasing big-name signings, the newly promoted side — the first Saudi club acquired by a foreign buyer in July — is looking to mirror clubs like Brentford or Brighton by focusing on smart recruitment, stability, and a clear football identity.

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Moneyballing it: Harburg’s strategy to prioritize long-term stability over overspending on marquee signings — a notable contrast with the league’s biggest clubs — draws on the “moneyball” model, using data-driven analysis to guide player recruitment and development. Harburg said the ambition is for Al Kholood to become “the Red Bull of the region,” producing top-quality players from its academy and talent network.

ALSO- Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand touted Saudi’s fast-growing sports market in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday (watch, runtime: 8:24). Saudi Arabia is making smart investments in a “huge lead” up to the 2034 World Cup, following a period of heavy investment to stabilize the market and gain room for better and smarter decisions in later years, he added. Ferdinand, who last year bought a stake in homegrown sports news platform Koora Break, said the sport’s growth will depend on how effectively its content reaches fans.

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