Al Hilal agree contract termination with defender Ali Al-Bulaihi

Al Hilal have reached an agreement with defender Ali Al-Bulaihi to terminate his contract, according to Saudi newspaper Okaz, paving the way for the 36-year-old to leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.

The agreement means Al-Bulaihi will be able to join another club as a free agent once his contract with Al Hilal is formally ended. His existing deal was due to expire next summer.

The decision follows Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi leaving Al-Bulaihi out of the squad during preparations for the new season. No reason was given for the defender’s omission or for the agreement to end his contract early.

Al-Bulaihi has spent eight and a half seasons with Al Hilal and made 263 appearances for the club. During that time, he scored 23 goals and provided three assists, despite playing primarily as a defender.

His most recent period with Al Hilal was interrupted by a loan move to Al Shabab in January. The proposed contract termination now leaves him free to consider offers from other clubs without a transfer fee being required.

Al-Bulaihi played a major role during a successful period in Al Hilal’s history. He helped the club win five league titles, three King’s Cup trophies and three Saudi Super Cup honours.

He also won the AFC Champions League twice with Al Hilal, adding to the club’s domestic success and establishing himself as an important part of their recent trophy-winning squads.

The reported agreement brings an end to Al-Bulaihi’s contractual relationship with Al Hilal ahead of the final year of his deal. It also gives the player the opportunity to move to a new club during the current summer transfer window as a free agent.

Al Hilal will now move forward without a defender who made 263 appearances across eight and a half seasons, while Al-Bulaihi’s next destination remains undecided.