In a move that bolsters the team's attacking prowess, the board of directors of Al-Hilal Club, chaired by Prince Nawaf bin Saad, announced the official signing of young French striker Mohamed Kader Meïté from Stade Rennais. This significant acquisition was made possible through the generous support and full sponsorship of prominent Al-Hilal member, His Royal Highness Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, who continues his leading role in supporting the club's progress.

Details of Mohamed Kader Mete's contract with Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal's board of directors finalized the signing procedures early Monday morning, with the player signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. He will now wear the blue jersey and begin a new chapter in the Saudi Professional League. This move comes just hours before the winter transfer window closes, underscoring Al-Hilal's commitment to seizing every opportunity to strengthen the team with top young talent.

Ongoing support from the Gold Member

The club's board of directors expressed their sincere gratitude to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for sponsoring the deal, praising his continued and unsurprising support for the club. This support is an extension of a series of initiatives undertaken by His Highness to ensure Al-Hilal's continued dominance both domestically and continentally. Financial support from the club's gold members is a cornerstone of its strategy to maintain its financial and technical stability and to attract players worthy of the global stature of the club.

Who is Muhammad Qadir Miti?

Eighteen-year-old Meiti is considered one of the most promising young talents in French football. He progressed through the youth ranks at Stade Rennais, a club renowned for its strong academy that produces stars, eventually reaching the first team. His brilliance wasn't limited to the club; he was also a key player for the French national teams, representing France at the under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels, reflecting his considerable talent and ability to continuously develop.

Player numbers and statistics this season

In terms of statistics, Mohamed Kader Meiti delivered impressive performances with Rennes in the 2025/26 season, participating in 19 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists for his teammates, all within 567 minutes of play. These statistics for an 18-year-old player in one of the top five European leagues indicate a promising goal-scoring talent on whom Al-Hilal are placing high hopes for the near future.

Winter transfer context

This deal comes on the final day of the winter transfer window for the Roshan League, which opened on January 5th and is scheduled to close today, Monday, February 2nd. Al-Hilal aims to blend experience and youth in its squad by signing Mete, ensuring it can compete for all available titles this season.

In a strategic move aimed at correcting the team's course during the current season's competitions, private sources revealed to "Al-Midan" that the board of directors of Damac Club succeeded in reaching a final agreement with the Syrian international player, Muhammad Al-Salakhdi, to strengthen the ranks of the first football team during the current winter transfer period.

Sources confirmed in their statements on Monday that the player and his agent are currently inside the club's headquarters in Khamis Mushait, in order to put the final touches on the contract terms in preparation for the official signing and announcement of the deal, so that Al-Salakhdi will be one of the winning cards that the technical staff relies on in the next stage.

A career coming from European stadiums

The signing of 24-year-old Mohamed Al-Salakhdi comes after a professional stint in the Swedish league with Värnamo. Although his participation this season was limited to 79 minutes in a single match where he neither scored nor assisted, Damac's management is banking on the young international's potential and development, especially considering he began his football career in Sweden, his country of birth, and has no prior experience in Arab leagues, making his move to the Saudi league a new challenge in his career.

The critical situation of Damac and the need for change

This deal is of paramount importance to the southern club, given the team's precarious position in the Saudi Professional League standings. The Knights of the South currently sit in 16th place with only 11 points, a position that places them in danger of relegation. The club's management aims to lift the team from the bottom of the table and secure their survival in the top flight by bringing in fresh talent during the winter transfer window, especially considering the fierce competition in the league this season and the improved performance of all the clubs.

Syrian players in Saudi stadiums

This move comes within a distinguished historical context for Syrian players in Saudi Arabia, where many Syrian football stars have achieved remarkable success in the Saudi Professional League, most notably Omar Al-Somah, Omar Kharbin, and Jihad Al-Hussain. This has established a positive reputation for Syrian players and their ability to quickly adapt to the Saudi football environment. Damac fans hope that Al-Salakhdi will follow in the footsteps of his compatriots and provide the necessary technical boost to lift the team out of its current slump and achieve positive results in the second half of the season.

All eyes of Saudi and Arab football fans will be on the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh at 8:30 PM tonight, Monday, as Al-Hilal hosts Al-Ahli in a highly anticipated match in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter is of exceptional importance, not only because it is a historic "classic" match between two giants of Saudi football, but also because it comes at a crucial stage of the competition, as the battle for the top spot intensifies and the points gap narrows.

Market value battle: Blue edge slightly ahead

Beyond the technical considerations on the pitch, Al-Hilal enters the match with a slight edge in market value, boasting a squad worth €190 million compared to Al-Ahli's €170.78 million, according to the latest statistics from Transfermarkt, a global platform specializing in football economics. This small difference reflects the substantial investments both clubs have made to bolster their ranks with top-tier international players, making the Roshan League a focus of global attention.

Box office stars: Nunez is the most expensive, Hernandez is chasing him

In terms of individual statistics, Al-Hilal's Uruguayan striker, Darwin Núñez, tops the list of the most valuable players in both teams with a market value of €35 million. He is closely followed by his French teammate, Theo Hernandez, who is valued at €28 million, the same as his compatriot Enzo Melot, who plays for Al-Ahli. These prominent names underscore the qualitative leap that Saudi sports are witnessing, as the league now boasts players who, until recently, dominated the top five European leagues.

The two teams' positions in the standings

In terms of the league standings, Al-Hilal enters the match at the top of the table with 46 points, but faces significant pressure from its pursuers. It trails second-placed Al-Nassr by just three points, and third-placed Al-Ahli, its opponent today. This close proximity in points makes today's match a "six-pointer." An Al-Ahli victory would put them level on points with the league leader, igniting an unprecedented level of competition, while Al-Hilal aims to widen the gap and solidify its dominance.

Youth vs. Experience

Statistics reveal a significant age disparity between the two teams. Al-Hilal leans towards experience with an average age of 27.1 years, which could give them an advantage in handling the pressure of big matches. In contrast, Al-Ahli relies on a younger and more dynamic squad with an average age of 25.6 years, promising a high-caliber tactical and physical clash between the wisdom of experience and the vigor of youth.

List of Al-Hilal's highest-valued players:

• Darwin Nunez: 35 million euros
• Theo Hernandez: 28 million euros
• Ruben Neves: 25 million euros
• Malcolm: 20 million euros
• Marcus Leonardo: 20 million euros
• Yusuf Akçeşek: 16 million euros
• Savic: 15 million euros

List of Al Ahly's most valuable players in terms of market value:

• Enzo Millot: 28 million euros
• Galeano: 22 million euros
• Ivan Toni: 20 million euros
• Ibanez: 17 million euros
• Valentin Atangana: 15 million euros
• Merih Demiral: 14 million euros
• Franck Kessie: 12 million euros