2023–24 Saudi First Division League
The 2023–24 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) will be the 3rd season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 47th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season is scheduled to start on 14 August 2023 and conclude in May 2024.[1]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 August 2023 – May 2024 |
| Matches played | 72 |
| Goals scored | 191 (2.65 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ousmane Barry (7 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Arabi 4–0 Hajer (21 August 2023) Ohod 4–0 Al-Jandal (3 October 2023) |
| Biggest away win | Al-Batin 0–5 Al-Kholood (3 September 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Al-Jabalain 3–3 Al-Arabi (28 August 2023) Al-Adalah 4–2 Al-Faisaly (1 September 2023) Al-Arabi 4–2 Al-Qaisumah (3 September 2023) |
| Longest winning run | Al-Orobah (6 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Al-Qadsiah (8 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Al-Qaisumah (8 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Al-Safa (6 matches) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 25 October 2023. | |
Team changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2022–23 season.
To the First Division LeaguePromoted from Second Division Relegated from Pro League |
From the First Division LeaguePromoted to Pro League Relegated to Second Division
|
Teams
A total of 18 teams are contesting the league, including 11 sides from the 2022–23 season, the five promoted teams from the Second Division and the two relegated sides from the Pro League.
Al-Batin were the first club to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Ittihad on 23 May 2023.[2] Al-Batin were relegated after three years in the top flight. Al-Adalah were the second and final club to be relegated following a 2–0 home defeat to Al-Ettifaq on the final matchday.[3] Al-Adalah were relegated after just one year in the top flight. Both Al-Adalah and Al-Batin will play in their 7th season in the FD League.
The first club to be promoted was Al-Najma who did so after a 1–1 draw against Al-Kawkab on 17 March 2023.[4] On 24 March 2023, Al-Taraji became the second club to be promoted despite a 1–0 defeat to Al-Bukiryah.[5] On 31 March 2023, Al-Bukiryah became the third club to be promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Diriyah.[6] On 8 April 2023, Al-Safa became the fourth club to be promoted following a 2–1 home win against Wej.[7] The fifth and final club to be promoted was Al-Jandal, who did so following a 4–2 aggregate win over Bisha in the promotion play-offs.[8]
Al-Najma were crowned champions after defeating Al-Taraji 2–1 to win their third title and first since 2010.[9]
Al-Najma return to the First Division League after an absence of 10 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 2012–13 season and will play in their 11th overall season. Al-Bukiryah return after an absence of two seasons and will play in their 3rd overall season in the First Division League. Al-Safa return after an absence of eight years and will play in their 2nd overall season in the First Division League. Both Al-Taraji and Al-Jandal were promoted to the First Division League for the first time in history.
Stadia and locations
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Adalah |  Ante Miše |
 Christofer Gonzáles |
Al-Adalah | Yelo |
| Al-Ain |  Valeriu Tița |
 Othman Maloum |
Zat Outfit | Yelo |
| Al-Arabi | Alen Horvat |
 Ahmed Al-Muwallad |
Kelme | Naqi Water, Yelo |
| Al-Batin |  Quim Machado |
 Zakaria Lahlali |
Skillano | Yelo, Almaali Hospital2 |
| Al-Bukiryah |  Darko Nović |
Zakaria Fati |
RightAway Sport | Yelo, Advanced Energy, Entaj1 |
| Al-Faisaly | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Yves Vanderhaeghe |
Mohammed Al-Amri |
Adidas | Aldrees, Yelo |
| Al-Jabalain |  Denis Lavagne |
 Yazid Abu Layla |
Envision | Abar, Yelo, AlAhli Medical2 |
| Al-Jandal | Ziyad Al-Afar |
Humood Bakr |
Skillano | Yelo |
| Al-Kholood | Fabiano Flora |
Tareq Al-Kaebi |
In-House | Yelo, Wav Water2 |
| Al-Najma |  Giovanni Solinas |
Ziyad Al-Qahtani |
Offside | Yelo, Kyan |
| Al-Orobah |  Rusmir Cviko |
Rafea Al-Ruwaili |
Offside | Yelo |
| Al-Qadsiah |  Robbie Fowler |
Max Power |
Macron | |
| Al-Qaisumah |  Carlos Eduardo Parreira |
Sultan Ghunaiman |
Copa | Yelo |
| Al-Safa | Laurent Hagist |
Dawod Al Saeed |
Terio | Yelo |
| Al-Taraji | Didier Gomes Da Rosa |
Abdulmajeed Haddadi |
Laser | Yelo |
| Hajer |  Gjoko Hadžievski |
Adriano Pardal |
Offside | Yelo |
| Jeddah |  Maher Al-Shammari |
Mohammed Al-Safri |
Skillano | Yelo |
| Ohod | Damir Burić |
Salem Qabbos |
Offside | Yelo |
- 1 On the back of the strip.
- 2 On the right sleeve of the strip.
- 3 On the shorts.
Foreign players
On 1 June 2023, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 6 players to 7 players.[25]
- Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
- Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
.svg.png.webp){kind=small}
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Orobah | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | +12 | 21 | Promotion to the Pro League |
| 2 | Al-Qadsiah | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 20 | |
| 3 | Al-Adalah | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 18 | |
| 4 | Al-Faisaly | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 14 | |
| 5 | Al-Bukiryah | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 14 | |
| 6 | Al-Jabalain | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 14 | |
| 7 | Al-Arabi | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 12 | +7 | 13 | |
| 8 | Jeddah | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 13 | |
| 9 | Al-Najma | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 11 | |
| 10 | Al-Kholood | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 11 | |
| 11 | Al-Batin | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 10[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 12 | Al-Taraji | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 10 | |
| 13 | Al-Jandal | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 10 | |
| 14 | Al-Ain | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 8[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 15 | Ohod | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 6 | |
| 16 | Hajer | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 4 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 17 | Al-Safa | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 3 | |
| 18 | Al-Qaisumah | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[27]
Notes:
- Al-Batin were awarded a 3–0 win over Al-Ain due to Al-Ain's inability to hold the fixture. In addition, Al-Ain were deducted 3 points for the same reason.[26]
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.
| Leader | |
| Promotion to the Pro League | |
| Relegation to the Second Division |
Results
Statistics
- As of 25 October 2023