Al Somah: 'I had multiple offers but my heart went for Al Orobah' | OneFootball

Roshn Saudi League great Omar Al Somah has vowed to do everything to repay the faith Al Orobah have shown in signing him, with the Syrian revealing he turned down “multiple offers” to move to the Al Jouf side.

Al Somah, the Saudi Arabian top flight’s all-time leading goalscorer, was on Sunday confirmed as Al Orobah’s latest addition following an agreement on a six-month contract.

The former Al Ahli striker, who spent the past two-and-a-half years at Qatar’s Al Arabi, is expected to make his 2024-25 RSL debut at Al Khaleej on Friday. Earning promotion to the top flight last season, Al Orobah currently sit 14th after 14 rounds.

"I'm delighted to be back in Saudi Arabia and back in the RSL,” Al Somah said. “It's an honour to put on the shirt of Al Orobah Football Club. I promise to do my best to live up to the expectations of everyone and add real value to the team.”

Al Somah, 35, was given a hero’s welcome when he arrived in Al Jouf, where Al Orobah supporters were understandably delighted at signing a player of his calibre.

The talented frontman scored an unrivalled 144 goals in 180 RSL appearances across eight years with Al Ahli from 2014, enough to earn three successive golden boot awards for finishing a season as the competition's top scorer.

His goals were integral to Al Ahli clinching the 2015-16 RSL title – the club’s first top-flight championship in 32 years.

“I'm really grateful for the fans who welcomed me in Al Jouf and I'm honoured to be among them,” Al Somah said. “I look forward to my first match in Al Jouf in two weeks' time [the January 22 encounter against Al Qadsiah]. We need the fans to stand by us and push us forward in the next few months.”

Of the options he had available before choosing to continue his career with Al Orobah, Al Somah said: “I had multiple offers, but this was the one I felt most comfortable with, and my heart went for Al Orobah."

Last Friday, Al Orobah confirmed Iraqi Adnan Hamad as their new manager, succeeding Portuguese coach Alvaro Pacheco.