Kalidou Koulibaly Joins Al Hilal Club in Saudi Arabia
In a surprising move, Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. The Senegalese defender, who has played 71 caps for the Senegal national team, becomes the latest Chelsea player to make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Koulibaly’s transfer follows the recent move of Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton to Al Hilal for a fee of 47 million pounds. Additionally, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has agreed to join Saudi club Al-Ittihad, while teammate Edouard Mendy is close to finalizing a move to Al-Ahly.
Koulibaly joined Chelsea from Italian club Napoli last July on a four-year contract. He arrived at Stamford Bridge with an impressive track record, having led Napoli to victory in the Italian Cup in 2020 and guiding Senegal to win the African Cup of Nations in 2022.
However, Koulibaly’s time at Chelsea has been limited, making only 32 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice in 23 Premier League matches. Despite this, he expressed his gratitude to the club and its fans on Twitter, stating, “From my first match until my last match, it was an honor for me to wear this armband.”
The exact fee paid by Al Hilal for Koulibaly’s services has not been disclosed by Chelsea, but reports suggest it could be as much as £20m. Koulibaly’s move to Saudi Arabia is part of a growing trend of high-profile players leaving European clubs for the Saudi League. This trend began with Cristiano Ronaldo’s move from Manchester United to Al Nassr in January, followed by Karim Benzema’s transfer from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad at the end of the season.
The ambition of the Saudi League to become one of the top five leagues in the world is evident in the recent acquisitions made by the Public Investment Fund in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The fund, which also owns Newcastle United, acquired four major clubs in the country last June. However, there are doubts about any direct relationship between the fund and Chelsea’s ownership by private equity firm Clearlake Capital, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The number of players transferring from Chelsea to the Saudi League could potentially reach four by the end of the summer, with reports indicating that Saudi clubs are interested in signing Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech as well. These transfers are part of a broader rebuilding process at Stamford Bridge, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino works to reshape the squad.
In other transfer news, German striker Kai Havertz is set to join Arsenal in a deal worth 65 million pounds, while Chelsea has accepted an offer from Manchester City for Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacetti, valued at 30 million pounds.
The moves highlight the growing influence and ambition of the Saudi League, as it aims to establish itself among the top leagues in the world.
How will Koulibaly’s move to Al Hilal impact Chelsea’s defense and the competition for starting positions among their defenders?
. The 31-year-old defender has struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup, with competition from fellow defenders at Chelsea.
Koulibaly’s move to Al Hilal comes as a surprise to many, as he was expected to stay at Chelsea and fight for his place in the team. However, the opportunity to join the Saudi Arabian club seemed too good to refuse.
Al Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having won numerous league titles and continental competitions. The club is known for its ambitious plans and has been actively pursuing high-profile signings in recent transfer windows. Koulibaly’s arrival adds further quality to their defense and strengthens their chances of success in domestic and international competitions.
The move to Saudi Arabia will also provide Koulibaly with a new challenge and the opportunity to experience a different footballing culture. The defender will be expected to contribute his vast experience and leadership skills to the Al Hilal team.
While Koulibaly’s departure may be a loss for Chelsea, it opens up opportunities for other young defenders at the club to step up and prove themselves. Chelsea has a strong youth system and is known for nurturing talented players, so it will be interesting to see who fills the void left by Koulibaly’s departure.
Overall, Koulibaly’s move to Al Hilal is an unexpected and significant transfer in the footballing world. It will undoubtedly be interesting to see how he adapts to his new surroundings and the impact he makes on the Saudi Arabian club.
I’m surprised to hear that Kalidou Koulibaly has moved from Chelsea to Al Hilal. It’s an unexpected transfer, but I hope he finds success in his new club.