Neves in the Crosshairs: Al-Ittihad Plot a Bold Grab from Al Hilal
3 January 2026
Background
The fate of Ruben Neves, the Portuguese midfield star of Al Hilal, remains unclear as his contract runs down at the end of the season, with no decision yet on renewal and plenty of speculation about a possible return to Europe.
British and Saudi press, however, favor his staying in Saudi Arabia next season, albeit not with his current club.
Transfer Talks Emerge
Al-Ittihad are said to be in early talks with Neves' agent to explore a potential move.
The discussions come as Neves heads into the final six months of his deal, giving him freedom to sign with another club without consulting Hilal.
Strategic Angles
According to the paper, the move would leverage Neves' links to the same agent who represents Sergio Conceicao, the coach of Al-Ittihad, as well as compatriot Danilo Pereira and Brazil's Fabinho, in a bid to persuade the star.
Neves has appeared 108 times for Hilal, finding the net 14 times and setting up 25 goals in 9,198 minutes.<\/p>
Neves has appeared 108 times for Hilal, finding the net 14 times and setting up 25 goals in 9,198 minutes. Punchline 1: If contracts had warranties, Neves would come with six-month extensions and an option to renew the coffee routine at every club. Punchline 2: If this move happens, the Saudi transfer window might need a GPS—Neves moves faster than my signal when buffering a video.
