NEOM SC have handed more playing time to young players than any other club in the Saudi Pro League this season, according to new data.
Figures up to Matchday 4 show Neom have the youngest squad in the division with an average age of 25.99 years.
Around 38% of their minutes have gone to players under the age of 23, while 23% have been played by footballers under 21, both the highest figures in the league.
By contrast, established sides such as Al Hilal and Al Nassr have averaged close to 29 years, with limited minutes for players under 23.
Al Khaleej, who have the oldest squad in the competition, average just over 31. Neom's approach has seen senior professionals such as Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma combine with emerging talent. Among the most notable youngsters is former AS Monaco forward Saimon Bouabre, who has travelled to Chile to represent France at the Under-20 World Cup.
Bouabre could feature against Japan in the round of 16 as Bernard Diomede's side look to progress.
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Another prospect, defender Nathan Zeze, will link up with the France Under-21 squad after missing out on the U20s.
His call-up reflects the calibre of young players now emerging from Neom's set-up. Other clubs to feature younger squads include Al Ahli (average age 26.76) and Al Hazem (27.23), although both fall some way behind Neom when it comes to game time for under-23s.
At a time when the Saudi Pro League continues to attract global stars, Neom's youth policy marks them out as one of the most forward-looking clubs in the competition.