Al-Hilal's Bold Move: Will Saud Abdul-Hamid Return on Loan from Roma to Lance Be Completed?
1 February 2026
Al-Hilal's Bid for Saud Abdul-Hamid
Al-Hilal has opened talks to sign Saud Abdul-Hamid, the 26-year-old defender currently on loan at Lance from Roma, on a winter loan deal, according to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah.
Abdul-Hamid, the Roma defender on loan at Lance, is viewed as a key target for the Saudi giants during the mid-season window, with the 26-year-old delivering solid displays for his French club.
Al-Hilal is reported to have offered a hefty salary, proposing 40 million Saudi riyals per year, while Abdul-Hamid has given a preliminary green light to returning to his former club, though negotiations are far from closed.
Roma's Stance and Abdul-Hamid's Journey
Roma's sporting director Frederic Massara said there has been no official contact from Al-Hilal through any channel to purchase the player, suggesting the club would first seek the player's consent before any formal step.
Abdul-Hamid joined Roma from Al-Hilal in the summer before last and has featured eight times for the Italian side, scoring once and providing one assist. He was sent on loan to Lance at the start of this season, playing 15 games and scoring once while adding two assists.
Punchline 1: If this transfer drama were a sniper joke, the target would be consent—and the punchline would be that it keeps missing the mark until the window actually closes.
Punchline 2: In football, a loan with an option to buy is basically a long-term rental with drama included—trust the pundits to renew the lease right before the coffee runs out.
