Al Hilal: Trophies won, current owners, transfers and guide to Saudi Pro League club

Al Hilal was founded under the slogan: "The wisest man is the most tolerant."

Yet, years of unbridled success at home and on the continent has fostered a relentless expectation of victory. Al Hilal have not finished outside the Saudi Pro League's top three since 2004 and have been ever-presents in the AFC Champions League across the last decade.

Here's everything you need to know about the biggest club not only in Saudi Arabia but perhaps the entire continent of Asia.

How many trophies have Al Hilal won?

• Full name: Al Hilal Saudi Football Club
• Founded: 16 October 1957
• Home stadium: King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
• Record goalscorer: Yasser Al-Qahtani (129)
• Record appearance maker: Mohammad Al-Shalhoub

Going into the 2022 Club World Cup semi-finals, Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo were heavy favourites against Al Hilal. However, the travelling Saudi fans were confident, unfurling a banner which decreed their status as "Asia's leader" (in English). Al Hilal go by the nickname Al-Za'eem which translates to 'The Leaders'.

The Saudi giants upset Flamengo in the semi-finals before scoring three goals against Real Madrid in a valiant 5-3 defeat. Al Hilal had the chance to compete for their first global crown by winning the AFC Champions League for a record-breaking fourth time.

No other club has completed the set of Asian club competitions, snagging the Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup along with the Champions League.

Al Hilal also boast the most top-flight titles in Saudi Arabian football (18) and have won the Saudi Crown Prince's Cup more often than any other club in the Kingdom.

It was no surprise when the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named Al Hilal as the 'Best Asian Club of the 21st Century'. For context, Real Madrid claimed the award among European sides.

Who owns Al Hilal?

In June 2023, Al Hilal became one of the four clubs bought by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The same organisation purchased a majority share in Premier League side Newcastle United, prompting the Premier League CEO Richard Masters to reveal that he had been given "legally-binding assurances" that there was no link between the Saudi government and PIF.

The billionaire Prince Abdullah bin Musaad bin Abdulaziz Al Al Saud - a self-confessed lover of "money and sport" - used to own Al Hilal before PIF acquired a 75% stake in the club as part of a strategic takeover of the sport.

PIF is also the financial might behind the breakaway LIV Golf brand.

Who have Al Hilal signed?

Al Hilal may have untold riches but their owners have not become one of the wealthiest investment vehicles in the world without the ability to spot a deal. At one point this summer, Al Hilal reportedly tabled an offer for five Chelsea players. It is always cheaper to buy in bulk.

Todd Boehly's Clearlake Capital, which co-owns Chelsea, also manages "billions of pounds of PIF assets" according to reports. However, this intertwined relationship was only enough to facilitate a transfer for centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

After one desperately underwhelming campaign in the English capital, Chelsea managed to squeeze £17m out of Al Hilal for the 32-year-old.

Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic resisted the advances of Premier League teams for years but begged president Claudio Lotito to accept Al Hilal's £34m offer. The £20m annual salary Milinkovic-Savic stands to earn may have played a role in his change of heart.

Ruben Neves became the most expensive signing in the history of the Saudi Pro League when Al Hilal forked over £47m for the services of the 26-year-old. Despite strong links to a host of European clubs, including Barcelona, the Al Hilal project proved to be Neves' most alluring offer - it was definitely the most lucrative.

READ MORE ON THE PLAYERS LINKED TO SAUDI ARABIA & THE MONEY ON OFFER