Ali Al-Bulaihi transfer rumours fuelled by brother’s appearance at Al Ahli match

Speculation over Ali Al-Bulaihi’s future at Al Hilal has intensified after his brother attended Al Ahli’s opening Roshn Saudi League match against Al-Diriyah on Thursday.

Al Ahli secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the first round of the competition, but attention away from the pitch centred on the presence of Al-Bulaihi’s brother among the Al Ahli supporters.

His appearance prompted discussion over whether the Al Hilal defender could move to either Al Ahli or Al-Diriyah. No transfer decision was confirmed, but his presence in the stands was enough to generate widespread debate around the experienced Saudi Arabia international’s next destination.

The speculation was addressed during a television appearance by Al-Bulaihi’s brother on the programme “Dawrina Ghair”. He explained that his attendance was connected to his long-standing support for Al Ahli rather than any possible move involving the Al Hilal defender.

“I have been an Al Ahli supporter for a long time and attend the matches,” he said.

He added: “I have always made a habit of attending Al Ahli’s first matches of the season, and I was present at the recent match between Al Nassr and Al-Raqi.”

He concluded: “That is the nature of football. Everyone supports whoever they want, and I love Al Ahli very much.”

The explanation appeared to offer a straightforward reason for his presence at the match, while the attention surrounding it reflected the level of interest in Al-Bulaihi’s future.

Al-Bulaihi’s brother has previously attracted attention while attending an Al Ahli match. He was also seen at the meeting between Al Hilal and Al-Raqi during the season before last, meaning Thursday’s appearance was not his first public showing at a game involving the Jeddah club.

Al Ahli’s victory over Al-Diriyah therefore provided the immediate backdrop to the discussion, with the result marking a winning start to their Roshn Saudi League campaign. The match itself was decided by a single goal, while the attendance of Al-Bulaihi’s brother created the main talking point surrounding the fixture.

For now, the only confirmed development is that the defender remains at the centre of speculation involving Al Ahli and Al-Diriyah. His brother’s comments stressed that he attends Al Ahli games because of his personal support for the club, rather than providing evidence of a transfer agreement or confirmed negotiations.