6 random forgotten players who we can't believe are now playing in the Saudi second division

The Saudi Pro League is full of superstars, but you'll be surprised at how many familiar faces actually play in the second tier of Saudi Arabian football.

It is no secret that huge amounts of money have been poured into the development of the sport in Saudi Arabia and as a result a number of top players have ended up in the lower leagues.

We've taken a closer look at the Saudi First Division League and picked out six players we can't believe are currently playing there.

André Carrillo

Carrillo is best known for his time at Sporting and his brief stint at Watford. He now plays in the Saudi First Division League for league leaders Al-Qadsiah.

The 32-year-old winger had spent the last five years playing for Al-Hilal in the top flight, but moved to Al-Qadsiah in the summer after being deemed out of his depth by his previous employers.

Vurnon Anita

Do you remember Anita from his time at Ajax and Newcastle? Now you can find the 35-year-old showing off his skills in Saudi Arabia's second division.

The defensive midfielder was never the most gifted player, but his work rate was certainly unrivaled. In 106 Premier League games he managed 201 tackles, which isn't too bad.

After spending the last three years in the Netherlands, Anita recently moved to Al-Orobah, who are currently second in the league.

Try a quiz: Can you name every player who has scored more than 10 goals in the Premier League for Newcastle?

Luciano Vietto

Vietto took the same path as Carrillo in the summer and left Al-Hilal to join Al-Qadsiah in the second division. Unsurprisingly, the former Atletico Madrid striker appears to be well ahead of the competition in his new surroundings.

The 30-year-old is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot with 17 goals in 27 appearances. He also provided nine assists during this time, making him the most productive player in the league.

With Al-Qadsiah holding a six-point lead at the top of the table, Vietto is on track to return to the Saudi Pro League next year.

Ryad Boudebouz

During his heyday, Boudebouz was an incredibly entertaining player to watch, especially during his time at Montpellier. The Algerian attacking midfielder spent a year with Al-Ahli before being relegated to the second division in the summer.

In the summer he signed a two-year contract with Ohod, who are currently in 13th place in the table. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best move.

READ MORE: 7 forgotten ballplayers we can't believe are playing in the UAE Pro League: Iniesta, Taarabt…

Try a quiz: Can you name the top Champions League goalscorer from these 20 clubs?

Joel Robles

The former Atletico Madrid and Everton goalkeeper is undoubtedly the most famous goalkeeper in the league. After his release from Leeds United in the summer, he was signed on a free transfer by Al-Qadsiah.

He has also done well in his new surroundings as Al-Qadsiah boasts the best defensive record in the league with just 23 goals conceded in 27 games.

Maximum strength

We have to admit that Power's entry into the second tier of Saudi Arabian football for 2023-24 wasn't on our bingo card, but here we are.

Robbie Fowler was the man calling the shots when Al-Qadsiah signed the midfielder from Wigan Athletic, despite losing his job in October.

“Look, any footballer who says it's not about the money is lying – everyone wants to be appreciated so they take the best offer. I have a wife and three children and every decision is now based on them,” Power said when he moved to Saudi.

“But we're not talking about phone numbers here, I'm not a player's profile. So I had to take a different route – let's just say I've come to terms with the fact that now that I'm 30, Jürgen Klopp won't call anymore.”

There is no questioning his honesty.