Ali Al-Bulaihi leaves Al Hilal after 263 appearances and 14 trophies

Al Hilal have reached a financial settlement with defender Ali Al-Bulaihi, bringing his eight-year spell at the club to an end before the close of the current summer transfer window.

The Saudi club decided to part ways with one of their most important players of the past decade after he fell outside the plans of new head coach Simone Inzaghi.

The agreement, reported by Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, formally ends the dispute surrounding the experienced centre-back and clears the way for his departure. No details have been disclosed about the terms of the settlement.

Al-Bulaihi’s next club has not yet been confirmed, although he has recently been linked with a move to Al Ittihad or Al Diriyah. Further information about his future has not been announced.

The decision comes as Al Hilal prepare to reshape their squad and build a side capable of challenging again for the Saudi Pro League title and the AFC Champions League Elite. In recent years, the club have endured a difficult period in those competitions, with their silverware largely limited to domestic successes such as the King’s Cup and the Saudi Super Cup.

Al-Bulaihi joined Al Hilal in 2017 from Al Fateh and quickly established himself as a key figure in the team’s defence. During his time at the club, he played 263 matches, scoring 23 goals and providing three assists.

He leaves with 14 trophies to his name, including five Saudi Pro League titles and two AFC Champions League triumphs. His contribution made him one of the defining players of Al Hilal’s recent era, both domestically and in continental competition.

Although the club have not released a detailed statement outlining the reasons behind the departure, the financial settlement confirms that Al-Bulaihi’s time at Al Hilal is effectively over. His exit also represents a significant change as Inzaghi begins to shape the squad according to his own tactical requirements.

The defender’s experience and record mean he is expected to attract interest from other clubs in Saudi Arabia. Al Ittihad and Al Diriyah have been mentioned as possible destinations, but neither move has been confirmed.

For Al Hilal, the focus now turns to strengthening the squad and restoring their position at the top of Saudi and Asian football. The club’s immediate ambitions are to reclaim the Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League Elite, while Al-Bulaihi must consider the next stage of a career that has already brought him major domestic and continental honours.

Al Hilal’s decision ends a partnership that began when the defender arrived from Al Fateh in 2017 and lasted through 263 competitive appearances. With 14 trophies secured during that period, Al-Bulaihi departs as one of the club’s most decorated and recognisable players of the last decade.