Everyone remembers Jarrod Bowen's winner against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in 2023. However, what is often forgotten is that Said Benrahma scored from the penalty spot to give West Ham United the lead. This was just before Giacomo Bonaventura equalised for the Serie A side.
Benrahma joined the Hammers from Brentford initially on loan in 2020. The deal had to be made permanent in January of that season for the club to sign Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United.
The Algerian scored 24 goals in 20 games for the Hammers in 155 games. Benrahma joined Olympique Lyonnais in February 2024 in a deal that fell through on transfer deadline day. However, after an appeal to FIFA, the transfer was granted.
Benrahma then joined Lyon permanently, but soon his time in Europe was up. Clubs appear to like the try-before-you-buy approach to the player, as he then joined Neom SC on loan.
He scored seven goals with eight assists for Neom in 16 games, helping them to gain promotion from the Saudi First Division League. The now Saudi Pro League club then signed him permanently. This season, Benrahma has found the back of the net five times, with four assists in 18 games in Saudi Arabia's top flight.
Said Benrahma has joined a very ambitious side
Neom is a very wealthy and ambitious club who were linked with Kevin De Bruyne before he joined Napoli after departing Manchester City. Despite missing out on De Bruyne, Neom still has a notable roster.
Former Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette, ex-Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, and current Poland international goalkeeper Marcin Bułka are all at the club. They also have two talented young French players, Rayan Messi and Nathan Zeze, on their books.
They are managed by the former Paris Saint-Germain coach, Christophe Galtier. Neom are currently eighth in the Saudi Pro League, and play the 11th-placed Al-Fayha tonight.
It will take time before Neom can compete with the Public Investment Fund-owned clubs, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli. However, with a few more recruits, there is no reason that they cannot challenge these big four teams in the future.