Zeze: Admired by Euro giants, France talent is thriving at NEOM SC
Zeze: Admired by Euro giants, France talent is thriving at NEOM SC In what has largely been a debut season of adaption for NEOM Sports Club, the emergence of talented French youngster Nathan Zeze has been one of undoubted bright spots. Much was expected last summer of the newly promoted club ahead of their first campaign in the Roshn Saudi League , that anticipation founded on the back of a hugely exciting recruitment drive. Keen to make a mark on the Saudi Arabian top flight , NEOM SC sought an obvious balance: they endeavoured to add both youthful potential and hardened experience.
In Zeze, a defender once dubbed the “next William Saliba” and reportedly courted by clubs such as Liverpool as he emerged as one of France’s most promising products, they have certainly delivered on the former. Still a few months shy of his 21st birthday, Zeze's performances have spoken volumes. Featuring in 26 of his side's 29 RSL matches, and boasting the second-most minutes of any outfield player (2,340) , it's underlined why the Tabuk-based club invested so heavily in the former Nantes centre-back.
Some of Zeze’s numbers could, of course, be viewed a double-edged sword. Take, for example, his 149 clearances, which rank him third in the entire 2025-26 RSL and No. 1 at NEOM SC .
In fact, only league champion - and captain - Ahmed Hegazi has managed triple figures, coming in at 127. While an illustration of Zeze’s terrific personal form, it’s also an indicator of the number of opportunities that Christophe Galtier’s team concedes. It’s no surprise that the others inside the season's top 10, outside of his teammate Hegazi, all represent sides in the bottom half of the table.
NEOM SC's historic debut RSL campaign is overseen by Frenchman Christophe Galtier With five full rounds remaining, NEOM SC sit eighth, seven points off Al Taawoun in fifth . More positively, Zeze ranks inside the top 10 in the league this term for passes (1,451), which demonstrates how important he is both going forward and in kick-starting moves. As does Zeze’s 12 chances created - one of the highest numbers in the current competition for a defender.