French Reinforcements Aim to Light Up Al Hilal's U21 Title Quest
11 February 2026
French reinforcements fuel Al Hilal's U21 title bid
Al Hilal's under-21 squad is banking on two French players, Meité and Bouabre, to bolster their bid for the Saudi Elite Under-21 Championship.
They currently sit fourth with 29 points, just three behind the leaders, with six rounds remaining in the season.
The club announced the signings during the winter window, with Meité arriving from Rennes and Bouabre from Neom, adding depth to the U21 roster for coach Mohammed Al Shalhoub.
In the first team, the list features goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Frenchman Theo Hernandez, Ruben Neves, Serge Milinkovic-Savic, Karim Benzema, and Brazilians Malcom and Marcos Leonardo. Pablo Mari and Darwin Núñez have left the domestic list and will compete in Asia's Elite Champions League and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.
The emphasis remains on giving the U21s a realistic chance to chase the title while managing the wider squad’s needs.
The Riyadh club had previously completed the winter signings of the French duo; Meité from Rennes and Bouabre from Neom. The senior list continues to include notable foreign names within the squad, underscoring Al Hilal’s bid for both immediate impact and long-term development.
For fans wishing to watch the U21 league, matches can be viewed via stc TV after registering.
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Punchline 1: If they win, the trophy will finally have a real home—no more luggage for it in the locker room.
Punchline 2: Expect celebrations to be bilingual—French flair meets Saudi passion, with subtitles optional but recommended.
