x/Alhilal_YT · Aug 22, 2026 05:51 +08:00 · Translated by
Led by the season's best: five talents worth watching at the opening of the AFC Champions League Elite
FEATURES · Jawwy Elite League U-21 · Al Jabalin U21 vs Al Hazem U21 · Al Qadisiyah U21 vs Al Khaleej U21 · Al Faisaly U21 vs Al Hilal U21 · Damac U21 vs Al Ittihad U21 · Saudi Arabia
Saudi football fans are counting down to the new season of the Joy Elite League, the Saudi Under-21 competition, and the chance to unearth the talents who could carry the banner of "the Green" in years to come. Plenty of young stars broke through last season and went on to form the backbone of their clubs' first teams. Expect more of the same this time around. Kick-off comes on Sunday 23 August, with a series of heavyweight fixtures set to put some of the finest talents on show.
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Jarmoush: the best in Joy League
One name has fans counting down the days to the new season: Abdulaziz Jarmoush. The winger lit up the Joy Elite League for Al-Hilal's Under-21 side, and he was the standout star of the competition. Al-Hilal fell short of the Saudi Under-21 League title last season, bowing out in the semi-finals. Even so, Kooora's selections crowned Jarmoush the tournament's leading star.
That recognition was no accident. Jarmoush's talent drove Al-Hilal through the league stage, where they finished second, a single point behind Al-Ettifaq, before qualifying for the semi-finals. Six goals in the first 11 rounds tell only part of the story. The 20-year-old also carved out chances for others, feeding off his skill, his dribbling and his ferocious strikes from outside the box.
His game ran deeper than attacking flair. Jarmoush left a clear defensive mark too, using his physical strength to such effect that many now draw comparisons with the club's current captain, Salem Al-Dawsari. Displays like those persuaded Al-Hilal first-team boss Simone Inzaghi to name Jarmoush in the squad for the Austria training camp and hand him minutes.
He is not yet a first-team regular, though, and that opens the door for Mohammed Al-Shalhoub. The Al-Hilal Under-21 head coach can call on him when they face Al-Faisaly on Monday at Al-Majmaah Sports City Stadium.
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Ammar Al-Ghamdi: Al-Ittihad's sharpshooter
That same day, Al-Ittihad head to Khamis Mushait as heavyweight visitors to Damac, and the home fans can't wait to see sharpshooting striker Ammar Al-Ghamdi return. Al-Ghamdi lit up the Elite Joy League last season. He was Al-Ittihad's leading light and one of the standout names across the entire competition, above all in front of goal, where he racked up 14 strikes.
Al-Ittihad crashed out in the quarter-finals against Al-Hilal, yet Al-Ghamdi still found the net twice: once in the 1-2 first-leg defeat and again in the 1-1 return draw. Scoring every which way, the 21-year-old proved a real handful. One-on-ones, headers, thunderbolts from outside the box — he had the lot.
Those displays earned Al-Ghamdi more than one promotion to Al-Ittihad's first team under former Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao. He'll be hoping German boss Jens Wissing does the same.
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Ammar Al-Yahyabi: the magician of Al-Qadsiah
The following day, fans have a date with another Ammar. Outstanding winger Ammar Al-Yahyabi leads Al-Qadsiah against Al-Khaleej at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Khobar. Al-Yahyabi lit up last season in the Joy Elite League, and not only with Al-Qadsiah. He also shone for Al-Ahli, whom he played for in the first half of the campaign before leaving once his contract expired.
His technical gifts told at both clubs, but so did his versatility. He could operate on the right or the left, using his pace and distinctive individual skill to torment defences. Nobody did more to drive Al-Qadsiah to the semi-final, where they fell to Al-Fateh. Goals, decisive passes, the individual spark that unlocked the final third: Al-Yahyabi supplied all of it.
The 20-year-old formed a fiery attacking triangle alongside Ammar Al-Hajouj and Iyad Housa. Al-Qadsiah's fans are desperate to see it reunited in the new Joy Elite League season.
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Abdullah Al-Muhaisen: the lion of Al-Qadisiyah
You can't talk about Al-Qadsiah without going back a step, to the goalkeeping position and one man in particular: Abdullah Al-Muhaisen. Al-Muhaisen played a prominent role for Al-Qadsiah last season. He won the award for best goalkeeper in the Roshn Saudi Pro League, edging out plenty of big names along the way.
Quick reactions, command of aerial balls, confident work in one-on-one situations: Al-Muhaisen had the lot. He didn't stop there. The young Saudi also mastered what the modern game demands of a keeper, the ability to play with his feet and build attacks from the back.
At just 19, he has fans dreaming of what comes next. The journey starts between the posts for Al-Qadsiah in the Roshn Saudi Pro League, and could end with him guarding the Saudi national team's net for years to come.
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Hassan Idris: the man of the elite final
The champions get their defence under way on Sunday. Al-Hazm, winners of the previous Joy Elite League, open against Al-Jabalain at the Prince Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Jalawi Stadium in Hail. Al-Hazm claimed last season's title on the back of a crop of young talents such as Fayez Hawsawi, Youssef Al-Shammari, Omar Al-Hatami and Abdulhadi Al-Harajin.
But the decisive word belonged to another man. Hassan Idris was that man. He scooped the Man of the Match award in the final, scoring twice to steer Al-Hazm to a 3-1 win over Al-Fateh. Fearless on the big occasion, the 20-year-old showed real character and produced his best display of the season on the biggest stage of all.
Al-Hazm's fans want that brilliance repeated, not just once but across the whole campaign. Fresh results, and perhaps another crack at the podium, are the prize.
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