RC Lens have turned Saud Abdulhamid’s loan from AS Roma into a permanent deal, tying the Saudi Arabia right-back to the French club until 2029 after a season that lifted his profile in Ligue 1 and strengthened his place in the national team set-up before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The decision, announced on June 4, follows a campaign in which Abdulhamid became a regular part of Lens’ plans, contributed in defence and attack, and helped the club secure the Coupe de France while qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League. The move gives Lens continuity on the right flank and offers the 26-year-old a settled European base after a difficult start to life abroad in Italy.
Abdulhamid joined Lens in July 2025 on a one-year loan from Roma, with the French club holding an option to buy. That clause has now been activated after a season in which his pace, stamina and crossing gave Lens a useful outlet from deep and helped the team maintain intensity in domestic competition. He was used primarily as a right-back and wing-back, roles that demanded repeated forward runs as well as recovery speed against counter-attacks.
The Jeddah-born defender’s rise has carried symbolic weight for Saudi football. His move to Roma in August 2024 made him one of the most prominent Saudi players to test himself in a major European league, though opportunities in Serie A were limited. He made a small number of league appearances in Italy but still created a milestone by becoming the first Saudi player to appear in Serie A and then scoring in European competition for Roma.
Lens offered a more practical route to regular football. Abdulhamid adapted quickly to the rhythm of French football, where transitions are fast and full-backs are expected to defend large spaces. His performances were particularly important in cup fixtures and in matches where Lens sought width against compact opponents. By the end of the campaign, he had moved from being a loan experiment to a player considered valuable enough for a long-term commitment.
The transfer also reflects a broader shift in how Saudi footballers are viewed abroad. For years, many leading players from the Kingdom built careers almost entirely in domestic competition, where clubs such as Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli provided high standards, major salaries and continental exposure. The growth of the Saudi Pro League has further reduced the immediate financial incentive for local players to move to Europe, making Abdulhamid’s path unusual.
His earlier career had already placed him among the country’s leading defenders. He came through Al-Ittihad before joining Al-Hilal in 2022, where he won major domestic honours and gained experience in high-pressure matches. That period established him as an energetic, attack-minded full-back, capable of playing in systems that require defenders to contribute to possession rather than remain fixed in deeper positions.
For Saudi Arabia, his permanent stay in France arrives at a useful moment. The national side is preparing for the expanded World Cup in North America, with Abdulhamid named in the squad under coach Georgios Donis. Saudi Arabia are drawn with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde in Group H, a demanding section that will test defensive organisation and wide-area discipline. Abdulhamid’s exposure to Ligue 1 and European competition gives the squad one of its few players with sustained experience outside West Asia.
His preparations were briefly disrupted in late May when his passport was stolen during a vehicle break-in in Amsterdam while he was with family for his wedding ceremony. Replacement documents were arranged, allowing him to join the national team camp in the United States before the tournament. The episode did not affect his club future, with Lens moving ahead to complete the purchase option days later.
Lens’ commitment comes with competitive logic as well as commercial appeal. The club will need greater squad depth for Champions League football, where the demands of midweek fixtures can expose teams without experienced rotation options. Abdulhamid’s ability to cover ground and operate in multiple right-sided roles gives the coach tactical flexibility, particularly against opponents who overload central areas and leave space wide.
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Saudi Arabia