Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has launched a comprehensive project to develop club academies across the Saudi Pro League and the first and second division leagues, establishing a sustainable pathway for developing elite talent.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the project was unveiled during a club forum held yesterday in Riyadh, attended by SAFF Secretary-General Majed Alsahib, SAFF Football Executive Director Matt Crocker, FIFA High-Performance and Talent Development Specialist Philippe Senderos, and representatives of the 68 participating clubs.

Alsahib highlighted the role of academies in expanding the national football talent base. Crocker outlined the project's strategic direction and operational workstreams, while Senderos underscored FIFA's support for developing sustainable, long-term talent systems.

SAFF is implementing the project in partnership with Double Pass, a Belgian academy development consultancy whose portfolio includes associations in England, Germany, Italy, and Japan. The project applies international benchmarks and standardized assessments across several key areas, including talent identification, pathways to first teams, the sports environment, infrastructure, staff competency, digital analytics, and governance.

The project will run across three evaluation cycles through 2030. It begins in the 2026/2027 season with comprehensive baseline evaluations of all 68 academies, followed by customized development plans. Subsequent cycles will track institutional progress, supported by financial and operational incentives linked to productivity and player transfer returns. The approach aims to maximize the technical and market value of homegrown players.