Hamad Al-Yami Stays with Al Hilal: Trust Earned, Future Secured

Contract extension confirmed

Hamad Al-Yami, a defender for Al Hilal, celebrated renewing his pact with the Zaeem after agreeing on all financial and contractual details in the past few hours. The club’s official statement confirmed that his deal has been extended with the intention of keeping him at the team through 2029.

Al-Yami took to his personal X account to express gratitude: “Thanks to God and His praise, my contract with Al Hilal has been renewed for three seasons. I thank the club’s management, represented by President Prince Nawaf bin Saud, and I thank the Zaeem fans for their support and motivation.”

He also added thanks to his agent, Rafi Al-Shahrani, for his constant backing, and wished continued success and trophies ahead, God willing. It’s worth noting that his contract would have expired at the end of this season, meaning the 26-year-old right-back could have signed with another club in January if no renewal had occurred.

Hamad Al-Yami’s journey at Al Hilal

Since joining in the summer of 2022 from Qadisiyah, Al-Yami’s development has accelerated, and this season is seen as the turning point where he established himself more firmly with the capital club.

Initially trusted by former coach Jorge Jesus to fill multiple roles on the flanks, he earned more minutes under current boss Simone Inzaghi, who progressively leaned on him as a reliable defender and contributor in attack. A standout moment came during the Club World Cup appearances, where Al-Yami produced a noticeable impact despite coming off the bench.

Over 74 appearances for Al Hilal, he has recorded two goals and three assists, including his time at Qadisiyah where he played 26 matches and assisted three. This season, a golden opportunity arose after Portuguese winger Joao Cancelo’s injury, allowing Al-Yami to cement his status as a regular in both defense and offense under Inzaghi’s system.

He was part of the squad that defeated Al Ettifaq 5-0 in the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League, helping the team maintain momentum. The renewal strengthens a defense that appears to be growing in both depth and reliability.

Coach’s praise, controversy, and upcoming tests

Analyst Abdullah Al-Qahtani critiqued refereeing in the Al Ettifaq match, suggesting several missed calls and a potential red card could have altered the game’s balance, while affirming that two Al Hilal goals in the 23rd and 39th minutes were valid and a late penalty for the opponents should have been awarded earlier. He also noted a missed penalty for Al Hilal just before halftime and argued for a stricter card in the 54th minute for a severe foul.

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi expressed satisfaction with the team’s comprehensive victory and highlighted that the squad’s focus and discipline returned after the break. He praised players who returned from international duty and said the team controlled both halves, with youngsters like Al-Yami showing they are ready for bigger duties. Inzaghi added that preparations for upcoming fixtures, including the AFC Champions League match against Al-Sadd, are ongoing and that fans should enjoy seeing Salim Al-Dosri acknowledged as a potential Asian Player of the Year, while hoping for good medical news on Hamad Al-Yami’s own health ahead of the next test.

Looking ahead, the coach emphasized the importance of the Sadd clash and hinted that consistency will be key as they aim to maintain momentum across competitions. The news of Al-Yami’s deal further secures a core piece of the squad, and the fans surely won’t mind a longer wait for more trophies and thrills. Two light-hearted notes to finish: if patience counted as a position, Al Hilal would have already won the league; and if contracts came with a motto, Hamad’s would be “stay grounded, stay sharp.”