RIYADH — The Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced on Tuesday a new strategy to drive competitiveness on and off the pitch with an emphasis on fostering young Saudi talent alongside securing the best international talent and improving the governance of all clubs for long-term success.

Amongst a number of new regulations and initiatives to be revealed ahead of the new season, the SPL will increase the playing time of young Saudi players in the league by reducing the age of eligibility from 18 years old to 16 years old, with immediate effect for the 2023-2024 season.

A further such step focused on youth development will see the reduction of squad sizes from the current number of 35 players overall, to 25 senior players with the remaining 10 squad members all having to be under the age of 21 years old, from the 2025-2026 season.

The new SPL strategy will provide a robust and clear pathway for young Saudi players and help bridge the progress from youth team football within the federation’s current player development system into the top tier of the country’s football league.

Looking to the long-term, by the start of the 2026-2027 season, the SPL has also announced a mandate on clubs in the league to include 8 “homegrown” players that are graduates of the club academies within their main roster of 25 squad players, of which 4 are direct graduates from the club’s system.

In a further effort to create elite squads that combine exciting up and coming young Saudi talent with world-class international players and role models, the SPL has launched a new Player Acquisition Center of Excellence (PACE).

PACE will be led by Michael Emenalo who joins the SPL as the new director of football with immediate effect, having been appointed by the Board of Directors of the SPL. Already all clubs have been fully briefed on the PACE process for international transfers and are activity working with Emenalo.

Former Nigerian international, Emenalo, is best known for his resounding 10 years of success at Chelsea where as technical director, he overhauled all aspects of the football operations. Under his guidance he revolutionized the club’s scouting, recruitment, development and loan systems.

As SPL Director of Football, Emenalo will lead PACE and start immediately assisting with squad mapping and player care. He will be responsible for providing a centralized approach to transfers and helping to give all clubs the best possible expertise and governance to ensure a dynamic, young, yet sustainable future.

Saudi Pro League interim CEO and Vice Chairman Saad Al-Lazeez said: “The Saudi Pro League has an incredible and vital opportunity to help fulfil the country’s football ambitions and inspire more of our people into football and sport.

“From next season the SPL will become younger and more competitive, taking advantage of the groundwork the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has been putting in at the grassroots for many years.

“The new strategy also sees the Saudi Pro League take a central, elevated role in supporting and developing clubs through its Club Framework business unit, and by initiating PACE will provide and centrally implement checks and balances in dealings on the international transfer market.”

“There is much potential for new talent arriving in Saudi Arabia and a central function providing control and strong governance will ensure our investments are smart and benefit all in the league moving forward,” he said.

He added, “Every club in the Saudi Pro League will get the opportunity to improve their squad through this innovative new model and Michael is the perfect man for the job. He has the ideal pedigree, the knowledge, the experience, the coaching qualifications and contacts to drive value and success for the overall league though this ambitious project.”

“The steps taken through PACE are part of a bigger plan and strategy that will be announced to improve the league and make it a world-class experience and product that engages globally and is competitive and sustainable in the long term, as one of the very best leagues in the world. This will be good for all football, good for all players, and good for all fans,” he said.

He added: “This strategy has been years in the making and has involved a lot of global footballing expertise to make the most of this unprecedented opportunity for growth. It goes far beyond and much deeper than the player transfers that are dominating headlines and focuses just as much on what happens off the pitch at the clubs.

“We are looking to the long-term and will be judged on that especially with helping the clubs become commercially successful with robust business models. The Club Development Program will also activate the fair play financial system, and monitor compliance with local and Asian licensing standards. We look forward to rolling out the full strategy in coming months.”

Newly appointed Director of Football at the Saudi Pro League, Emenalo commented: “I believe this is a role that I’ve spent the last 45 years preparing for. It was not a difficult role or offer to accept. I am intrigued by the audacity of the project and the ambition.

“This project has been in the making for a while. It’s not a spur of the moment decision, its well thought out. I’m impressed by the knowledge and input that’s gone into this. The Saudi Pro League offers a new opportunity first and foremost for the entire industry and I think will create avenues for good competition and for more development of young talent.”

The new SPL strategy builds upon the existing player pathway unveiled as part of ‘Tactics for tomorrow’ which was first introduced in 2021 by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and has since witnessed a massive investment in time and resources.

Since 2021 funding in Saudi youth football has increased by 162% and 23 regional training centers have been established and opened. The impact has been significant and stats compelling.

The number of registered male players has increased by 58% and the number of coaches has risen from 750 in 2018 to over 5,500 in 2023, of which over 1000 are female coaches. As a result, every high potential Saudi footballer is now tracked and has a comprehensive plan, starting from the age of six years old through to turning professional.