Saud in Rome

Abdulhamid has completed his historic move to AS Roma.

The Saudi Arabian defender, who won the Roshn Saudi League last season with Al Hilal, was officially announced on Tuesday as the newest player for the Italian Serie A club. This makes him the first footballer from Saudi Arabia to sign permanently for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Abdulhamid, 25, flew to Rome on Monday and passed medical tests before signing with the three-time Italian champions. He will wear the No. 12 shirt at his new club.

As a Saudi Arabia international, Abdulhamid was a key player for Al Hilal, helping them win the RSL titles in both 2021-22 and 2023-24. He also won the King’s Cup twice and the Saudi Super Cup twice. He secured the second Super Cup earlier this month, but did not play in Al Hilal’s 2024-24 RSL opening match against Al Okhdood on Saturday.

Abdulhamid started his senior career at Al Ittihad in 2018, making 72 appearances in the RSL before moving to Riyadh in the middle of the 2021-22 season. At Al Hilal, the right-back played 75 times in the Saudi league and scored four goals.

Abdulhamid is now a regular player for his national team and was a standout performer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, especially during Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win against eventual champions Argentina.

Fans reacted with excitement and pride to Abdulhamid's move to AS Roma. Saudi Arabian fans were particularly proud to see one of their own make history by becoming the first player from their country to join a top European league. Many expressed their support and excitement on social media, praising Abdulhamid's hard work and talent that led to this achievement.

Roma fans were also curious and optimistic about the new signing, hoping that Abdulhamid could strengthen their defense and make a positive impact on the team. The general reaction was one of enthusiasm and anticipation, with many eager to see how he will perform in Serie A.