SPL · Ar Rass, Qassim, Saudi Arabia · Al-Hazem Club Stadium

Al-Kholood Club

The first Saudi football club to be 100% foreign-owned, Al-Kholood's sale to American investor Ben Harburg in 2025 made them a test case for the privatization of Saudi football.

1970

1970–2024

The Long Wait

Five decades of lower-division football in Qassim.

Al-Kholood — meaning 'Immortality' — were founded in 1970 in Ar Rass, a city in the Qassim Province. For over fifty years, the club competed in the lower tiers of Saudi football, building a modest but dedicated following in the local community. The Qassim region, located in central Saudi Arabia, is home to several clubs, but none had generated the headlines that Al-Kholood would eventually make. The club's long years in the lower divisions were characterized by limited budgets, local talent development, and the patient accumulation of experience that would eventually facilitate their rise through the pyramid.

Key Facts

  • Founded in 1970 in Ar Rass, Qassim Province
  • Spent 50+ years in lower divisions
  • Name means 'Immortality' in Arabic
2024

2024–Present

A New Model

First promotion, foreign ownership, and a grand experiment.

Al-Kholood's story accelerated dramatically in the mid-2020s. The club earned promotion to the Saudi Pro League for the first time in 2024, competing in the top flight during the 2024-25 season. But the bigger story broke in July 2025, when American investor Ben Harburg acquired 100% of the club — making Al-Kholood the first Saudi football club to be entirely foreign-owned. The deal was a watershed moment for Saudi football's privatization drive, demonstrating that the kingdom's football market was open to international capital at every level, not just the PIF-backed elite. English manager Des Buckingham was appointed in August 2025, bringing a modern, data-driven approach to a club in the early stages of transformation. Al-Kholood's 2025-26 season in the Saudi Pro League is as much about proving a business model as it is about results on the pitch.

Key Facts

  • First promotion to Saudi Pro League in 2024
  • Sold to Ben Harburg in July 2025 — first 100% foreign-owned Saudi club
  • Des Buckingham appointed August 2025