Hilal's Winter Gambit: Will Abu Al-Shamat Move Shake Up the Saudi Pro League?
23 January 2026
Transfer pursuit heats up
Will the Qadisiyah right-back join the Zaeem fortress?
Al Hilal has resumed its efforts to sign Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, the right-back from Al Qadisiyah, during the current winter transfer window.
The club had previously submitted a formal bid to secure Abu Al-Shamat this January, a move rejected by Al Qadisiyah.
Saudi newspaper Al Sharq Al-Awsat reported that Hilal sent a fresh offer in recent hours to persuade the player to leave his club.
It was added that Abu Al-Shamat held a meeting with his agent at a hotel in Al-Khobar today, though details were not disclosed.
If the deal fails, the "Leader" may pivot to another right-back, Riyad Al-Ateeibi of Al-Ettifaq, as they seek to resolve the issue quickly.
Hilal currently has only Hamad Al-Yami as a right-back after Portuguese Joao Cancelo's loan to Barcelona, forcing coach Simone Inzaghi to rely on the left-back Muteb Al-Harbi in that role.
The 23-year-old has appeared 19 times for Al Qadisiyah this season, scoring once and providing five assists.
Bid timeline and potential replacements
A decision is expected soon as the Saudi giants want to finalize the squad ahead of the transfer deadline.
