Alejandro? No—Maliki departs Al Hilal: playing time wins over loyalty
14 January 2026
Departure details
Inzaghi trims yet another star's departure ticket.
The Saudi club Al Hilal announced the departure of midfielder Abdulilah Al-Maliki, who had fallen out of coach Simone Inzaghi's plans.
Al-Maliki had requested to leave during the ongoing winter transfer window, after finding it very hard to get playing time due to competition with Mohammed Kanno, Ruben Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, and Nasser Al-Dawsari.
Al Hilal said in a formal statement on social media that a financial settlement was reached with Maliki, ending the contract by mutual agreement.
The move came at Maliki's request; he wants a new challenge where he can play regularly and aim for a national team return.
The 31-year-old Saudi international joined Hilal in 2022 from Ittihad Jeddah, but injuries have sidelined him for extended periods.
Next steps
He is seeking regular playing time elsewhere while continuing to aim for a return to the national team.
Punchline 1: In football, timing is everything—and apparently so is leaving at the right moment.
Punchline 2: Don't worry, the bench is about to get a little warmer.
