LONDON: Alberto Botia has admitted he knew very little about the Saudi Pro League or Al-Hilal before he joined the Riyadh giants this summer.
The Spanish defender was new boss Jorge Jesus’ first signing and has penned a two-year deal with Al-Hilal with the option of a further year.
And now settled with the rest of the squad at the side’s Austrian training camp Botia is looking forward to a successful season and hoping for domestic and continental success.
“All is going well. I have been here for three weeks and it keeps getting better,” the 29-year-old said.
“I got to know the team and my teammates better and this has helped me feel more comfortable here. I am very happy for that and I hope it is going to be a good year for the team level as well as for the players individually.
“In fact I was not very familiar with the Saudi league until I knew that Al-Hilal team were interested in me joining their team. So I started searching for information about the team and I found very good news about them, this is why I am here with you today. I am playing for Al-Hilal now, and I hope we will have a good season together.”
Botia, who signed on a free from Greek giants Olympiacos, revealed that the fact Jesus was the coach was crucial in him signing for the Riyadh club — something Al-Hilal were hoping for when they persuaded the Portuguese boss to join the club.
“The head coach is one of the best coaches in Europe and it is exciting to be working with him, I am happy for that,” Botia said.
“When I arrived to the airport in Riyadh, I saw a lot of fans cheering for me and for the team and this got very happy. It motivates me to work hard and give all that I have, to make them happy at the end of the season. Ever since the first day, the coach was motivating us; he encouraged us to give our best. We have to work a lot this year and this will make us better on the individual and collective levels.”
Botia arrives at Al-Hilal with an impressive pedigree. He was schooled at Barcelona, playing for the club’s B team nearly 60 times and making one appearance for the first team in 2009. He went on to play for Sporting Gijon, Sevilla and Elche before moving to Olympiakos in 2014 for €2 million ($2.3 million). There he won the league title three seasons on the trot and the double in 2015. He was captain of Olympiakos and plays at the heart of the defense so he could be the successor to Osama Hawsawi at Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal signing Alberto Botia excited at prospect of Saudi league, working with Jorge Jesus
Al-Hilal signing Alberto Botia excited at prospect of Saudi league, working with Jorge Jesus
Driving force behind Saudi motorsport lauds partnership with Formula E ahead of Jeddah E-Prix 2026
- Prince Khalid bin Sultan: We are proud to continue our partnership with Formula E, which represents a model for the future of sports based on innovation and sustainability
- Alberto Longo: We are delighted to be in the Kingdom, and we view Saudi Arabia as a long-term strategic partner in building the future of electric motorsport globally
JEDDAH: The driving force behind Saudi motorsport, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, has lauded its partnership with Formula E ahead of the Jeddah E-Prix.
“For Saudi Arabia to host such prestigious international motor races is a great honor. We are proud of that, as part of our drive to achieve the aims of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030,” said Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC).
The announcement was made at a major press conference that took place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Thursday in the presence of Alberto Longo, the Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer of Formula E and Carlo Boutagy, the Founder and CEO of CBX.
Speaking ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, taking place at the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 13 and 14 February 2026, Prince Khalid told press: “Since hosting its first international race in 2018, motorsports in the Kingdom has witnessed a qualitative leap in terms of organization, audience attendance, and global standing, and today the Kingdom has become a major stop on the calendar of the most important international championships.”
He added: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Formula E, which represents a model for the future of sports based on innovation and sustainability, and is fully aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
For his part, Alberto Longo, the Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, stated that Saudi Arabia was among the first partners to believe in the vision of Formula E, he said: “We are proud that our first major international station in the region is part of the transformation path led by Vision 2030.”
He added: “We are delighted to be in the Kingdom, and we view Saudi Arabia as a long-term strategic partner in building the future of electric motorsport globally.”
Carlo Boutagy, the Founder and CEO of CBX spoke to the press about the event and what the Formula E enthusiasts expect this year, he said: “The Jeddah E-Prix achieved great popular and organizational success in the last edition, with tickets selling out before the race date, which reflects the rapid growth of motorsports in the Kingdom.”
“Today we are not just talking about a race, but about a complete experience that includes competition, entertainment, audience interaction, and presenting a modern model for the sports events industry in the Kingdom,” he added.
He pointed out that beyond racing, the event offers a full entertainment experience, including concerts, interactive fan zones, and global sponsor activities designed to engage attendees of all ages.
