Saudi side Al-Hilal sign Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Barcelona snap up Ilkay Gundogan
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Real Madrid's Rodrygo (left) in action with Chelsea's Kalidou Koulibaly.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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RIYADH – Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly is joining Al-Hilal from English Premier League side Chelsea, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Sunday.
“We’ll continue to make history together,” Al-Hilal wrote on Twitter, alongside a short video featuring Koulibaly.
He scored two goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea after joining them from Napoli in July 2022.
The 32-year-old is the second player moving to Al-Hilal from the Premier League after Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
The Saudi Pro League has become attractive to Europe-based players since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in January.
League champions Al-Ittihad signed Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema earlier in June, while the club have also confirmed that former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is joining them.
Al-Hilal are the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and Asia having won 66 trophies, and they hold the record for league and Asian Champions titles with 18 and four respectively.
Boosting their squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club, who have lost their league and Champions League crowns.
Spanish media report that they are also keen to secure the services of Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva.
Midfielder Luka Modric had also been linked with a move to Riyadh but Real Madrid on Monday said he will stay at the club for another season after renewing his deal, which expired this month, until June 2024.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, who turns 38 in September, remains a key player for Real and decided to stay despite strong interest from Saudi Arabia.
The Croat follows Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos and Nacho Fernandez in extending his time in Madrid this summer.
“In his 11 seasons defending our shirt, he has played 488 games and won 23 trophies,” said Real in a statement. Modric has lifted the Champions League five times with Real since joining in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur, as well as La Liga on three occasions and Copa del Rey twice.
He faces stiff competition next season at the Santiago Bernabeu though.
Real signed England international Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund for over €100 million (S$147.6 million) earlier in June, while Kroos, Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde are jostling for places.
Not to be outdone, Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona announced a marquee midfield signing of their own on Monday.
Germany international Ilkay Gundogan has agreed a two-year deal with the option for a year’s extension and a release clause of €400 million euros after the expiry of his City contract.
The 32-year-old had been an influential presence for Pep Guardiola’s City since joining in 2016, captaining the team to a stunning treble this season and Guardiola admitted City had been trying to renew his deal. REUTERS, AFP
