Chelsea’s Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his move to Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal after just one season with the Blues. The announcement was made by the London club on their Twitter handle, stating that Koulibaly had completed his transfer to Al Hilal FC.
Koulibaly, who signed for Chelsea from Napoli last July on a four-year deal, becomes the latest Chelsea player to move to Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy, who have also agreed to sign for Saudi clubs.
Despite arriving at Stamford Bridge with a strong pedigree, having helped Napoli win the Italian Cup in 2020 and Senegal claim the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, Koulibaly played just 32 games for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals in 23 Premier League appearances.
The move to Al Hilal represents a fresh start for Koulibaly, who will be hoping to make a big impact in the Saudi Professional League. With his commanding presence and impressive defensive skills, he will be a key asset for his new team.
For Chelsea, the loss of Koulibaly will be a blow, as they look to rebuild their squad ahead of the new season. However, with the likes of Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, and Thiago Silva still on their books, they should have enough quality to cope without the Senegalese defender.
Overall, Koulibaly’s move to Al Hilal is a reminder of the global appeal of football, and the power of the transfer market to reshape the fortunes of clubs and players alike. As fans around the world eagerly await the start of the new season, it is clear that there will be plenty of drama and excitement to come, both on and off the pitch.
