The 2021–22 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) was the first season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 45th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 6 September 2021 and concluded on 28 May 2022.
All three teams were promoted on the final day of the season. Al-Khaleej were promoted and crowned champions following a 0–0 away draw with Najran. Al-Adalah were promoted following a 0–0 draw away to Jeddah. Al-Wehda were promoted following a 3–0 away win against Al-Diriyah.
Bisha were the first team to be relegated on 5 May. They were relegated following a 2–1 defeat away to Al-Adalah. Al-Kawkab were relegated a day later following a 2–0 home defeat to Al-Jabalain. Al-Nahda became the third side to be relegated following a 3–0 defeat away to Ohod on 18 May. On 23 May, Al-Diriyah became the fourth side to be relegated despite a 2–1 away win against Bisha. On the final matchday, Al-Jeel became the fifth and final side to be relegated despite a 2–1 away win against Al-Nahda.
Overview Changes On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. To prepare for these changes it was announced that 5 teams would be relegated in the 2021–22 season and only 3 teams would be promoted from the 2021–22 Second Division.
Rebrand On 26 August 2021, the newly appointed executive director of the FDL, Talal Al-Obaidi, announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2021–22 season, the competition would be known as the First Division League (FDL). As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.
Name sponsorship On 1 September 2021, the FDL announced a sponsorship with car rental company Yelo. As part of the sponsorship deal, the First Division League would be known as the Yelo League for the next 3 seasons.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season.
To the First Division League Promoted from Second Division Al-Okhdood Al-Orobah Al-Kholood Bisha
Relegated from Pro League Al-Qadsiah Al-Wehda Al-Ain
From the First Division League Promoted to Pro League Al-Hazem Al-Fayha Al-Tai
Relegated to Second Division Al-Bukayriyah Al-Thoqbah Arar Al-Nojoom
Teams A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2020–21 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.
The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Ain, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight 2–0 defeat away to Al-Nassr on 14 May 2021. In the final matchday, both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Wehda were relegated following a draw with Abha and a loss against Al-Shabab respectively. Al-Qadsiah were relegated after only a year in the top flight while Al-Wehda were relegated after three years in the top flight.
The first club to be promoted was Al-Orobah who were promoted despite a 1–0 away defeat to Afif on 27 March 2021. On 3 April 2021, both Al-Okhdood and Bisha were promoted. Al-Okhdood were promoted following a 1–1 draw with Al-Taqadom while Bisha were promoted following a 2–0 win over Al-Jandal. The final club to be promoted was Al-Kholood, who were promoted following a 3–1 away win over Al-Dahab in the final matchday.
Al-Okhdood defeated Al-Orobah 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) to win their second title and first since 1992.
Al-Kholood and Bisha will play in the First Division League for the first time in their history. Al-Orobah return after an absence of two seasons and will play in their 13th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Okhdood return to the First Division League for the first time since the 1992–93 season. They will play in their 2nd season in the First Division League.
Stadia and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. Team Location Stadium CapacityAl-AdalahAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumHajer Club StadiumAl-AinAl Bahah King Saud Sport City StadiumAl-DiriyahDiriyahPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh)Al-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed StadiumAl-JeelAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumHajer Club StadiumAl-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium Al-KhaleejSaihatAl-Khaleej Club StadiumAl-KholoodAr RassAl-Hazem Club StadiumAl-Bukiryah Club Stadium (Al Bukayriyah)Al-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman StadiumPrince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium Al-Okhdood Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City StadiumNajran University StadiumAl-OrobahSakakahAl-Orobah Club StadiumAl-QadsiahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi StadiumAl-SahelAnakPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club StadiumAl-WehdaMeccaKing Abdul Aziz StadiumBishaBishaBisha University StadiumKing Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)HajerAl-Hasa Hajer Club StadiumPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumJeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City Najran Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City StadiumNajran University StadiumOhodMedinaPrince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Foreign players On 26 June 2021, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 4 players to 5 players.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former Players Al-Adalah Alan Nailson Ibrahima Tandia Tunde Adeniji Ogenyi Onazi Achraf Krir Al-Ain Othman Alhaj Othman Hassan Reuben Gabriel Al-Diriyah Hacène Ogbi Wesley Marius Obekop Joseph Adjei Mahmoud Al-Youssef Gelson Ibrahim Salis Al-Jabalain Nabil Saâdou Rogerinho Teco Marlon Ricardo Ribeiro Jefferson Tiago Orobó Al-Jeel Faisal Abu Bakr Abdou Aziz Ndiaye Abdullah Jenyat Zied El Bakouch Aymen Trabelsi Romarinho Ahmad Al Douni Al-Kawkab Franck Julienne Badreddine Benachour Falou Samb Hamza Ben Abda Oussema Ben Ayed Al-Khaleej Diego Miranda Mamadou Soro Samuel Sarfo Miodrag Gemović Mondher Guesmi Al-Kholood Islam Chahrour Nasreddine Zaâlani Malek Shalabiya Aniekpeno Udo Khemais Maaouani Sid Ahmed Aouadj Mohamed Salem Prince Obus Aggreh Al-Nahda Rachid Nadji Mohammad Zureiqat Nabil Aankour Abdulaziz Noor Bilel Souissi Michael Sarpong Ifeanyi Anaemena Fehmi Kacem Al-Okhdood Kaká Mendes Maicon Douglas Reinaldo Dutra Issam Al Sabhi Alaya Brigui Hugo Cabral Taylon Correa Al-Orobah Rayllan Bruno Dudu Philipe Maia Aboubacar Diarra Héldon Ramos Al-Qadsiah Cédric Amissi Ibrahim Amada Moha Rharsalla Uroš Vitas Carlão Leandro Carvalho Muralha Al-Sahel Jhonnattann Benites Uilliam Victor Lawson Bekui Daniel Ajibola Al-Shoulla Pitty Sylla Daouda Piqueti Omar Wade Ovidy Karuru Mario Budimir Al-Wehda Ahmed Abdu Jaber Karim Yoda Ousmane Barry Soualio Ouattara Alberto Botía Bisha Sid Ahmed Aouadj Guillaume Daho Seydouba Camara Seifeddine Akremi Mohamed Ben Tarcha Kaddour Beldjilali Elvis Rupia Saith Sakala Hajer Adriano Pardal Fernando Gabriel Lázaro Ismail Kouakou Modibo Maïga Jeddah Mohammad Fouad Junior Magbi Emanuel Novo Alaeddine Bouslimi Bilel Khefifi Breno Halef Pitbull Mohamed Abdelmaguid Ally Niyonzima Najran Carlos Henrique Izaka Aboudou Kwame Quee Borhen Hkimi Oussema Boughanmi Rafael Costa Seifeddine Jerbi Ohod Sofiane Khelili Goran Zakarić Carolus Andria Zakaria Lahlali Ouday Belhaj Mourad Hedhli
League table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, 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.
Results
Statistics
Scoring Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Carolus AndriaOhod252 UilliamAl-Sahel193 Ahmed Abdu JaberAl-Wehda184 Mamadou SoroAl-Khaleej165 Adriano PardalHajer14 Modibo MaïgaHajer Rayllan BrunoAl-Orobah8 JhonnattannAl-Sahel129 Ibrahim DiomandéAl-Qadsiah11 MarlonAl-Jabalain Ibrahima TandiaAl-Adalah PiquetiAl-Shoulla
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Uilliam Al-Sahel Al-Diriyah 4–2 (A) Uilliam4 Al-Sahel Al-Jeel 6–3 (A) Jassem Al-Hamdan4 Al-Khaleej Al-Jeel 5–1 (A) Jhonnattann Al-Sahel Al-Kawkab 4–1 (H) Ahmed Abdu Jaber4 Al-Wehda Al-Orobah 5–1 (H)
Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away4 Player scored 4 goals
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Mutab SharahiliAl-Khaleej172 Abdulquddus AtiahAl-Wehda163 Abduraouf Al-DaqeelHajer154 Saad Al-SalehAl-Qadsiah145 Abdulrahman Al-ShammariNajran136 Ricardo RibeiroAl-Jabalain12 Emanuel NovoJeddah8 Ali Al-AmeriAl-Adalah11 Nasser Al-SaiariAl-Ain10 Abdulaziz Al-MwijedAl-Jeel10 Sultan Al-GhamdiAl-Orobah
Awards Round awards
RoundPlayer of the RoundReferencePlayerClubRound 23 Diego MirandaAl-KhaleejRound 24 Sultan Al-SawadiAl-WehdaRound 25 Mohammad FouadJeddahRound 26 Yahya Al-NajeiAl-WehdaRound 27 Ibrahim DiomandéAl-QadsiahRound 28 Borhen HkimiNajranRound 29 Ali Al-AmeriAl-AdalahRound 30 Muaiad Al-TolayhiAl-KholoodRound 31 Waleed Al-ShangeatiAl-AdalahRound 32 Omar WadeAl-ShoullaRound 33 Saleh AboulshamatAl-QadsiahRound 34 Modibo MaïgaHajerRound 35 Ayman Al-HujailiAl-AinRound 36 JhonnattannAl-SahelRound 37 Ahmed Abdu JaberAl-WehdaRound 38 Rayllan BrunoAl-Orobah
See also 2021–22 Saudi Professional League 2021–22 Saudi Second Division 2021–22 Saudi Third Division
References