American businessman Ben Harburg has taken full control of Al-Kholood Club in Ar Rass, becoming the first foreign owner of a Saudi Pro League team. His company, the Harburg Group, bought 100 percent of the club, marking a historic moment as Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its plan to privatize football.Ben Harburg, who also owns part of Spanish club Cadiz FC, moved to Ar Rass in the summer to start building his vision for the team. He told Arab News that his dream is to make Al-Kholood strong on the field and stable as a business. “The people are amazing. I have never felt so welcome anywhere in the world,” Harburg said after meeting fans in Ar Rass on August 17.
Ben Harburg shares plan for Al-Kholood’s growth
Ben Harburg said his first goal is to make the club financially safe. “My primary objective is to make Al-Kholood financially sustainable. Beyond this, I plan to reinvest any proceeds back into the club,” he said.He explained that Al-Kholood, a smaller club, gives him space to try new ideas.“We could be more experimental and creative with the process of building the club and its brand within the Saudi market,” Harburg told Arab News.The Harburg Group has hired a strong team, including Robert Eeinhorn, former CEO of Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, to help lead operations. Harburg said the focus for now is survival in the Pro League, then investing in new infrastructure and a youth academy.“Once we survive this season, the focus is on academy development. We have many gaps to fill,” he added.Harburg also made it clear that he does not plan to compete with Saudi giants funded by PIF, Aramco or Neom. “We need to build future stars, not buy them. You will always lose that fight,” he explained.
Ben Harburg focuses on Saudi talent and fans
Harburg believes fans are at the heart of the club. “They are our 12th man, without our fans, we are nothing,” he said. He is working to bring back community football and ensure supporters have a strong voice in the club.His long-term vision is to make Al-Kholood a home for young Saudi players. He wants the club to help produce future national team stars and give current internationals more chances to play ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.Also Read: UAE to host Afghan Women’s Refugee Team in historic international FIFA Unites tournament “The national team is strong, and Saudi talent is only getting better,” Harburg said. “Our key performance indicator is how many of our players appear on the Saudi National Team roster.”He added that Saudi football has a “late mover advantage” in using new technology to reach fans worldwide. With more global attention on the Saudi Pro League, Harburg believes the league could soon rank among the top five in the world.
