Leonardo, Al Mousa, Veiga, Amyn - the young talent thriving in 2024-25 RSL | OneFootball

One of the most striking features of last summer’s transfer window was the plethora of young talent from around the world making their way to the Roshn Saudi League to continue their football journey.

As the league continues to attract some of the world’s best footballers, it is increasingly looking to the next generation and, among this season’s cohort, there have been some standouts that are already showcasing their incredible ability.

But far from just importing talent, the RSL is also creating it with a number of Saudi players also making a name for themselves courtesy of some eye-catching performances.

With the 2024-25 RSL currently paused for its winter break, we shine a light on some of those aged 22 or under that have caught our eye after 13 matchweeks.

Musab Al Juwayr - Al Shabab, 21

To describe Al Juwayr as the best young player in the league might seem like a big claim, until you remember the Al Shabab star has picked up the Young Player of the Month award for four of the past five months, going back to the tail end of last season, including all three this season.

With three goals and four assists in this his second season on loan at Al Shabab from Al Hilal, the midfielder has established himself as a key member of the side that has been in resurgent form this campaign, helping them to sixth spot at the mid-season break.

With an AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup on home soil during the next decade, the 21-year-old is setting himself up as one of the future stars of Saudi football.

Marcos Leonardo - Al Hilal, 21

The Brazilian arrived in Riyadh this summer with a burgeoning reputation from his time at Benifca, where he scored eight goals in 24 games. To be fair, he had already established himself at Santos in his native Brazil, racking up 168 matches and 54 goals before his 21st birthday.

Already this season, and in a stacked Al Hilal side, Leonardo’s quality has been on full display. Three goals in nine appearances is a solid return for a winger, about the same rate he was scoring in both Brazil and Portugal, while he has a further three goals and an assist in the AFC Champions League Elite.

With two of those goals coming in his past two appearances, Leonardo looks set for a big second half of the season.

Saad Al Mousa - Al Ittihad, 22

Having just celebrated his 22nd birthday, the young defender is quickly emerging as one of Saudi Arabia’s best prospects when looking ahead to even a FIFA World Cup on home soil in 2034.

Having initially joined the Jeddah giants on loan from Al Ettifaq last season, he made the move permanent in the off-season and has continued that fine form again for a resurgent Al Ittihad.

Playing in 10, and starting nine, of the league leaders’ 13 games so far this campaign, Al Mousa has been an integral member at the heart of a defence that has conceded the second fewest goals, at nine.

Angelo Gabriel - Al Nassr, 20

Like compatriot Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian winger first made a name for himself with Santos. In fact, the two played together at the Brazilian club for a number of seasons, even working under current Al Raed manager Odair Hellmann. And, having shared a dressing room, the pair now find themselves on either side of the fierce Riyadh divide.

While Gabriel has featured in only seven of the 13 matches of his debut season, he’s shown enough to convince that he is one to watch for the future, with a goal and assist in the league. He also has a goal and two assists in the AFC Champions League Elite, where he has featured more prominently.

In a side boasting Cristiano Ronaldo, Anderson Talisca and Sadio Mane, opportunities are always going to be at a premium, but when they have come, Gabriel has taken them to full effect. Expect him to figure even more as manager Stefano Pioli continues to shape the team in his image.

Ezequiel Fernandez - Al Qadsiah, 22

The Argentina youth international, who impressed at the summer’s Paris Olympic Games, had suitors from around the world chasing his signature, but it was to Al Qadsiah that he pledged his future in the off-season.

And, with Michel’s side sitting pretty in third place in their first season back in the RSL since 2020-21, a large part of that is due to the performances of Fernandez in the middle of the park.

No goals and a solitary assist might not scream off the page, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Fernandez is ranked second at the club, behind only Nacho, for passes and ball contacts, meaning so much of what Al Qadsiah produce goes through the former Boca Juniors starlet. That, therefore, makes Fernandez vitally important to their success.

Gabri Veiga - Al Ahli, 22

Having had a difficult introduction to life in the RSL last season, this season is proving a better one personally for the Spanish youth international.

Veiga admitted to taking time to adapt to life in his new surrounds last term, and then suffered a long-term injury that kept him on the sidelines as Al Ahli finished the campaign in third place.

And while Al Ahli have struggled more this season, they have recovered to fifth at the mid-season break, while Veiga has three goals and an assist to his name, with one of each in the AFC Champions League Elite for good measure. The attacking midfielder is also ranked No.1 at the club for shots, with 36, highlighting the good positions he is getting himself into in attack.

Youssef Amyn - Al Wehda, 21

The Iraqi international has been one of the shining lights in an otherwise difficult start to the season for Al Wehda, who have already parted ways with one coach, in Josef Zinnbauer.

Born in Germany, and initially playing for their youth national teams, the youngster pledged his international future to Iraq, the birthplace of his parents, and impressed at this year’s AFC Asian Cup in Qatar while on the books of 2.Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig. He even started in Iraq’s memorable win against Japan.

Since moving to Al Wehda, Amyn been one of their best performers, with two goals to his name already and undoubtedly one of the team’s liveliest options in attack. With manager Jose Daniel Carreno having returned to the club, the hope is he can extract even more from the prodigious winger.