Omar Al Somah
Omar Jehad Al Somah is a Syrian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hazem and the Syria national team. Nicknamed in Syria as Al ΚΏAggied which is a historical civil character in Damascus known for participating in the resistance against occupiers and for being courageous, helpful, and generous.
Al Somah started his career at local club Al-Futowa, before joining Kuwaiti side Qadsia in 2011. In July 2014, Al Somah joined Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. He went on to become the league top goalscorer in 2015, 2016 and 2017. He helped Al-Ahli win the league in 2016, their first in 32 years. In 2022, he joined Qatari club Al-Arabi on loan, before making the transfer permanent the following year. In January 2025, he made his return to Saudi Arabia, signing with Al-Orobah. In June that year, he signed for Moroccan club Wydad for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Club career
Al Futowa
Al Somah began his football career at the age of 12, joining the youth academy of his hometown club Al Futowa. The academy won the 2007β08 Syrian under-18 league, with Al Somah emerging as the top scorer of the season with 29 goals.He advanced to the senior team, aged 17, in the 2008β09 season, scoring 12 goals in the league and becoming his club's top scorer, although the club was relegated to the 1st Division. In the following season, he played a crucial role in their immediate promotion. He scored five goals during the 2010β11 season until its suspension in March 2011 due to the Syrian revolution.
Al Qadsia
On 30 June 2011, Al Somah joined Al Qadsia in the Kuwaiti Premier League. In his debut season, he achieved the Kuwaiti Premier League, Emir Cup and Super Cup.Trial at Nottingham Forest
In July 2012, Al Somah participated in three games with Nottingham Forest, scoring once in a month-long trial. His trial with Nottingham occurred during the ownership of Kuwaiti businessman Fawaz Al-Hasawi, alongside his fellow national teammate Firas Al-Khatib.Despite coach Sean O'Driscoll's desire to keep the player, his proposed transfer collapsed due to his inability to obtain a work permit. This was due to specific conditions required in English football, including his country's FIFA ranking and the number of international matches he had played in the last two years. In the meantime, it was proposed that he could play for six months in France before joining the English club, but he refused, preferring a higher salary with Al Qadsia to support his family.
Return to Al Qadsia
Upon returning to Al Qadsia, Al Somah secured the Emir Cup, Super Cup, and Crown Prince Cup in 2013. In the 2013β14 season, he won his second league title, along with the Crown Prince Cup, Federation Cup, Super Cup, and the continental AFC Cup. He concluded his final season at the club as the league's top scorer, netting 23 goals.Al Ahli
2014β15: Debut season and Pro League's top scorer
In May 2014, it was announced that Al Somah would join Saudi side Al Ahli, by signing a two-year contract. On 16 August 2014, he netted a hat-trick on his league debut in a 6β1 victory over Hajer. In December that year, he extended his contract until 2018.On 13 February 2015, he scored a goal, one minute after entering the pitch, to open the score in an eventual 2β1 victory over Al Hilal in the Saudi Crown Prince Cup final. He finished his debut season as league's top scorer with 22 goals. Later that year, on 27 May, he netted a brace in a 2β1 victory over Naft Tehran in the AFC Champions League knockout stage round of 16 second leg, yet his club were eliminated on away goals rule.
2015β17: Three domestic titles and consecutive top scorer
In the 2015β16 season, Al Somah scored 27 goals in the Pro League, securing his club's first title in 32 years. He also netted a brace in a 3β1 win over Al Nassr after extra time in the King Cup final. In addition, he scored a goal and decisive penalty during the shootouts victory over Al-Hilal in the Super Cup. In the 2016β17 season, he achieved his third top scorer award with 24 goals, becoming the first player to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive season.2017β22: Recurring injuries and Pro League's all-time top scorer
In 2017β18, he sustained an ankle injury which sidelined him for most of the season. In April 2018, he signed a new contract with the club until 2021.During the 2018β19 season, Al Somah scored 19 goals in 24 matches for Saudi Professional League side Al Ahli. On 1 March 2019, he scored an overhead kick against Al-Ittihad in the Jeddah Derby.
On 29 November 2020, Al Somah scored a goal in a 2β1 win over Al-Faisaly, in which he managed in seven seasons to equal Nasser Al-Shamrani's record of 126 goals in eleven seasons, to be the joint all-time top scorer of the league, since the Professional League rebrand in the 2008β09 season. On 22 December, he broke the record by scoring his 127th goal in a 1β0 win over Al Fateh.
In January 2021, he extended his contract until 2024. Following the club's relegation in 2021β22, Al Somah departed with an impressive tally of 192 goals and 30 assists, including a record 144 league goals.
Al-Arabi
2022β23: Loan season and Emir Cup title
On 9 August 2022, Al Somah joined Qatari side Al-Arabi on a one-year loan. On 12 May 2023, he scored a brace for Al-Arabi in a 3β0 win over Al Sadd in the [2023 Emir of Qatar national football team|Qatar Cup|Emir Cup] final, to be their first title in the competition in over 30 years. He finished his debut season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals, three goals behind league's top scorer Michael Olunga.2023β25: Permanent transfer and club's top scorer
On 21 July 2023, Al Somah joined Qatari side Al-Arabi on a two-year deal. He concluded the 2023β24 season as his club's top scorer with 17 goals, ranking fourth overall.Al-Orobah
On 12 January 2025, Al Somah returned to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Orobah for the remainder of the 2024β25 season. A month later, on 7 February, he scored his first goals for the club by netting a brace in a 4β2 win over Al Wehda. He eventually featured in 17 matches during the 2024β25 season, scoring 11 goals, but despite his efforts, his team was relegated to the Saudi First Division League.Wydad
In June 2025, Al Somah joined Botola side Wydad, signing a short-term deal, ahead of their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. He missed the opening match against Manchester City due to visa complications preventing his travel to the United States. On 22 June, he made his debut as a substitute in a 4β1 loss to Juventus.Al-Hazem
On 27 August 2025, Al Somah returned to Saudi Arabia and joined Al-Hazem on a one-year deal. A month later, on 23 September, he netted his first goals by scoring a brace in a 2β1 win over Neom in the King's Cup round of 32.International career
Al Somah played for Syria U20 during the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship, scoring his country's only goal in the tournament against Iraq. On 11 October 2012, he made his senior debut in a friendly match against Kuwait, which ended in a 1β1 draw. He was then part of the team which won the 2012 WAFF Championship.After a five-year hiatus, he returned to the national team during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, playing his first match against Qatar on 31 August 2017, followed by scoring his first goal, a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2β2 away draw against Iran, which qualified his country to the qualification's fourth round. He scored both goals against Australia in a 2β3 defeat on aggregate, in addition to hitting the post from a free kick in the stoppage time of extra time, which could have qualified his country to the inter-confederation play-offs on away goals rule. In December 2018, he was named in the Syrian squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
In December 2023, he announced his retirement from international football, after being excluded by coach HΓ©ctor CΓΊper from the squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. After a few days, he reversed his decision to retire, explaining that his initial announcement was made out of anger and frustration, and stated that he would be ready to represent Syria whenever called up for international duty. On 6 June 2024, he started his first match following his return in a 1β0 defeat against North Korea during the 2026 World Cup qualification.
Style of play
Al Somah plays an attacking role, most often as a center-forward, and is known for his finishing and free kick abilities. His height, strength, jumping ability, and heading technique give him an edge in winning aerial challenges. Additionally, he scores with both feet. His playing style has earned him the nickname "the Syrian IbrahimoviΔ".Personal life
Al Somah has been married since 2015 and has two children. In February 2019, Al Soma donated $6,000 to Al-Fotuwa, the club he started his career with.Career statistics
International
Honours
Al-Futowa- Syrian Premier Division U-18 League: 2007β08
- Syrian Second Division Northern Group: 2009β10
- Kuwaiti Premier League: 2011β12, 2013β14
- Kuwait Emir Cup: 2012, 2013
- Kuwait Crown Prince Cup: 2013, 2014
- Kuwait Federation Cup: 2013β14
- Kuwait Super Cup: 2011, 2013, 2014
- AFC Cup: 2014
Al-Arabi
- Emir of Qatar Cup: 2023
Individual
- IFFHS AFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011β2020
- Saudi Pro League Player of the Month: October 2014, October 2015, November 2020
- Syrian Premiere Division U-18 League top scorer: 2007β08
- Kuwaiti Premier League top scorer: 2013β14
- [Saudi Professional League|Saudi 2015β16 Saudi Pro League|Pro League Golden Boot]: 2014β15, 2015β16, 2016β17
- GCC Golden Boot: 2014β15, 2015β16