Al Kholood on the climb: Assessing their superb start to season

When Al Kholood stormed their way to the King’s Cup final last season, all while the threat of relegation from the Roshn Saudi League lingered, it was seen as a fairytale.

And with good reason given where the club had come from.

But perhaps what it actually was was a preview into the future; a future in which Al Kholood are no longer plucky underdogs, but a team capable of not just mixing it with the best but beating them.

Undefeated through the opening six rounds of the 2026-27 RSL, defeat in the final game before the international break was their only slip-up in an otherwise flawless start to the season.

But how have they done it? Let's investigate.

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Slaying giants

Al Kholood's fixture list through the opening seven matchweeks was far from easy: Al Ittihad away first up, followed by games against last season’s surprise packages, Al Taawoun, the newly promoted but hugely ambitious Diriyah Club, and reigning back-to-back Asian champions Al Ahli.

It would’ve been easy to buckle under the weight of the schedule. Instead, though, instead pressure made diamonds.

Al Kholood took a point in Jeddah on the opening day, defeated Al Taawoun in a five-goal classic after a first-half blitz and then, in one of the biggest upsets of the season so far, saw off Al Ahli 3-1 at home.

While there is still more than three quarters of the campaign to go, Al Kholood entered the international break seventh in the table and but outside the continental qualification spots only on goal difference.

That, for sure, would represent a remarkable feat, but not one without precedent across the Saudi top flight.

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Taking their chances

OK, so maybe they aren’t among the league’s highest scorers, but 12 goals in seven games is still a decent return for a side that struggled to find the net for a lot of last season.

Already their average goal-per-game has risen from 1.1 last term to 1.7 this time around, which can be put down to improved efficiency in front of goal. Indeed, Al Kholood had netted in all six of their RSL outings until drawing a blank in their recent defeat to Al Riyadh.

Last season, Des Buckingham’s side ranked middle of the road (10th) for conversion rate, at 11.7 percent. This season they've climbed to third with 15.2%, behind only table-toppers Al Hilal and title contenders Al Qadsiah.

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Deadeye Domingues

A large part of that improvement in the final third can be traced back to the shrewd recruitment of Julien Domingues.

The 30-year-old Frenchman may not be a name that jumps off the page, having spent his career in the lower leagues of the French system.

However, Al Kholood have placed a premium on their recruitment and, after the incredible success of Ramiro Enrique last season, appear to have found another diamond in the rough.

Three goals and two assists place Domingues inside the 2026-27 RSL’s top 10 for goal contributions, and already he looks primed to be one of this term's breakout stars.

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Cool Coba

Another one to file away under “astute acquisition” - and we shouldn't neglect to mention Iker Kortajarena - is Coba da Costa, the 24-year-old Spaniard who arrived from Getafe, again with modest fanfare.

But the enterprising left winger is showing that you don’t play in La Liga without genuine talent. And, while Domingues is finishing the chances, Da Costa is conjuring them, ranking just outside the top 10 in the current division for chances created, with 10.

Da Costa comes in around that spot also for shot attempts so, when he isn’t laying on chances for others, he’s taking it on himself. The only slight negative being that, from those 17 shots at goal, Da Costa is yet to hit the back of the net. But surely his time will come.

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Plugging the leaks

One of Al Kholood’s most glaring issues through the 2025-26 campaign was that their defence leaked 61 goals, at a rate of 1.8 goals-per-game. In that, they faced the fourth most shots of any side.

Yet this season that’s down to 1.4. What’s more, their best defensive performances have come against opponents boasting the most dangerous attacks: Al Ittihad, Diriyah Club and Al Ahli.

To their credit, Al Kholood now rank seventh in the league for fewest shots conceded, while their xGA (Expected Goals Against) differential has dropped from 8.1 - second worst in the league last season - to only 0.7. They boast the league’s sixth-best xGA record, at 9.3.

Tightening up at the back, flowing up top: little wonder Al Kholood are one of the early season success stories.