Hilal Kickstarts the Summer with Its Opening Signing
9 March 2026
First Summer Move: Hilal Signs Its Opening Transfer
It seems that Al Hilal is gearing up to push hard into the upcoming summer transfer window, having already sealed its first signing in advance of the new season, a move that reflects the club's desire to bolster the squad with young players capable of making a difference in the years ahead.
Read also: a Saudi sports outlet notes that officiating controversies have not always gone Hilal's way.
According to the Saudi daily Al-Riyadiya, the management has reached an agreement with Abdullah Al-Anzi, a winger from Al-Fateh, to join the squad on a five-year contract, set to begin next summer.
The move comes after Al-Anzi, 23, entered the free phase of his contract with Al-Fateh since January, allowing Hilal to negotiate with him directly without formal talks with his current club.
The signing is viewed as a long-term investment in the winger's development, given his potential to cover multiple attacking roles.
Since his rise to Al-Fateh's first team in summer 2023, Al-Anzi has appeared in 37 matches across competitions, scoring two goals and providing three assists, according to Transfermarkt data.
In the current season, he has featured in 14 matches for Al-Fateh, clocked 694 minutes, and recorded one goal and one assist.
This signing recalls players who moved from Al-Fateh to Hilal and left a mark in the leader shirt, led by defender Ali Al-Bulayhi, alongside goalkeeper Hiba Al-Watiyan and winger Faisal Al-Jumlan.
The deal is part of Hilal's strategy to strengthen the squad with young talents who can serve as a technical extension for the future. The club had already brought in several talents in the winter window, including Murad Housawi and Ryan Al-Dosri, and is set to finalize Sabri Dehl, a winger from Al-Fayha, who should join in the summer alongside Abdullah Al-Anzi.
Punchline 1: If football contracts grew on trees, this five-year deal would be a full orchard of sunshine and amortization.
Punchline 2: With signings coming this fast, Hilal’s calendar might need its own transfer window just to keep up with the headlines.
