Spanish Tide Reaches Roshen: Pablo Mari Signs with Al-Hilal as 10th Spaniard in Saudi Pro League
11 January 2026
Al-Hilal has increased its Spanish representation in the Roshen Pro League to 10 players with the signing of Pablo Mari from Fiorentina in the winter window. He joins as a defender, at the request of the Italian coach Simone Inzaghi.
Mari's arrival comes as Roshen continues to lean on Spanish talent, pushing the overall number to ten Spaniards across nine clubs in the league.
Before Mari’s arrival, nine Spaniards were already in Roshen. The article notes the most prominent Spaniards in the league as the defender Iñigo Martínez and the right back Nacho Fernández, both among the best regarded among Spanish players plying their trade in Saudi football.
Nacho & Martinez Spotlight
The two standout Spanish figures in Roshen are Nacho Fernández, former Real Madrid captain who now plays in the league, and Iñigo Martínez, a central defender making a name for himself with his current club. Both have become symbols of the growing Spanish footprint in the Saudi top flight.
Martínez joined Roshen ahead of the current season to bolster the ranks of Al-Nassr, while Nacho continues his second season with the league’s elite, contributing leadership and experience in defense.
Medrán, The Veteran
Beyond these stars, other Spaniards bring experience to the Saudi stage, including Álvaro Medrán, a midfielder for Al-Ettifaq who has been in the league since January 2022, making him one of the longest-serving Spaniards in Roshen.
The league also features players like Jason Remísero (the right winger for Al-Fayha), Unai Hernández (midfielder who has played for several clubs in the country), Pablo Fernández (right winger for Gulf), Fernando Bachico (goalkeeper for Al-Fakh), Sergi González (center back for Riyadh), and Miguel Carvalho (midfielder for Al-Hazem), among others. The Spaniards are now spread across multiple teams, boosting the profile of Spanish footballers in Saudi football.
Punchline time: with Mari in the back line, even the offside trap will need a passport.
Punchline two: if defense is a language, Mari just filed a bilingual contract that speaks fluent wall.
