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Diriyah Club Ownership Transferred to Diriyah Company; New Board Formed

Diriyah Club Ownership Transferred to Diriyah Company; New Board Formed
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Diriyah Club Ownership Transferred to Diriyah Company; New Board Formed

Diriyah Club Ownership Transferred to Diriyah Company; New Board Formed

The Diriyah Company announced the completion of the ownership transfer procedures of Al-Diriyah Club from the National Center for Privatization (NCP) to Diriyah Company, owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The step comes as part of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project announced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in June of last year, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The initiative aims to support and develop the sports sector and encourage and empower the private sector to contribute effectively to the sports field, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The company's board of directors, chaired by the Crown Prince, has approved the formation of Al-Diriyah Club’s Board of Directors, chaired by Prince Khalid bin Mohammed bin Saud, with membership including Jerry Inzerillo, Mohammed Al-Khreiji, Ayman Al-Fallaj, and Hamad Al-Bati.

Founded in 1976, the club is preparing to compete in the Saudi Second Division League (SDL) during the upcoming 2024/2025 sports season, after being placed in Group 2 as announced by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

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Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
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Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)

Narrowly defeated by Paris St Germain at the Champions League quarter-final stage, Aston Villa are now focused on getting straight back next year into Europe's top club competition.

"I am very proud of everything we did in the Champions League," Villa boss Unai Emery said as the dust settled from a pulsating clash with PSG whom they beat 3-2 in Tuesday's second leg but lost 3-1 to in the first game for an overall 5-4 defeat.

Villa are seventh in the Premier League but only a point off fifth which would secure them a Champions League berth again.

"It is now most important to get Europe again. The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches (of the Premier League) is to try and get Europe and the Champions League," Emery said.

His pride at Villa's strong showing, after a four-decade absence from Europe's elite, was tinged with frustration at just failing to pull off a remarkable comeback as they came so close to scoring a fourth goal at Villa Park that would have levelled the tie on aggregate.

"We were close," he said, adding that he had to push his team on to achieve ever more. "Still a little bit more to do better, to try to get it."

Aston Villa captain John McGinn, who scored on Tuesday, echoed the sentiment.

"Obvious disappointment but I am proud of my teammates, proud of the club. We have come a long way. We were so, so close tonight. We just fell a little bit short," he said.

"We had chances to take the game to extra time but we've got to be proud about the way we came back against one of the best teams in the world, to fight to the end. We want more. We want to be back here next season and we will try our best to do that."

McGinn said the players gave their all against a superb opponent. "We never gave up. It was chaos, but we gave absolutely everything and I think every Aston Villa supporter will leave with a huge sense of pride," he said.

"I've never played against Real Madrid or Barcelona, but in my career they (PSG) are the best team I have faced. I'm getting old and I certainly wouldn't like to play against them every week."