Abdulkarim Darci has become the seventh player to leave Al Hilal this summer after the Saudi Pro League champions agreed a season-long loan move to Abha.
The Riyadh club confirmed in an official statement that it had approved the temporary transfer of the midfielder to Abha until the end of next season, as coach Simone Inzaghi continues a sweeping overhaul of his squad.
Darci, 26, joined Al Hilal only last summer on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Al Ahli at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. His departure comes after just one year in the capital.
Seventh departure of the window
Darci’s move takes the tally of confirmed exits at Al Hilal to seven in the current transfer window, through a combination of contract expiries, loans and permanent sales.
The club’s statement said it had “agreed the loan of its player Abdulkarim Darci to Abha Club until the end of the upcoming sports season”, without disclosing financial details of the deal or whether an option to buy had been included.
Last season, Darci featured in 28 matches in all competitions for Al Hilal, but his game time was limited. He played a total of 510 minutes and did not register any goals or assists during that period.
The former Al Ahli player will now aim to secure more regular football with Abha, who narrowly avoided relegation last season and are seeking to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.
Inzaghi trims Hilal camp in Austria
Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, appointed this summer to succeed Jorge Jesus, has already begun reshaping his squad during Al Hilal’s pre-season camp in Austria.
He decided to exclude goalkeeper Ahmed Abu Rasin, defender Ali Al-Bulayhi and forward Abdullah Radif from the training camp, signalling that all three are unlikely to feature in his plans for the coming season.
Their omissions followed other confirmed exits from the squad, as Al Hilal look to balance a star-studded roster that already includes high-profile names such as Neymar and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Key names depart as contracts end
Spanish defender Pablo Mari has left the club after his contract expired, bringing his stint in Riyadh to a close. Midfielder Mohammed Al-Qahtani has completed a move to Al Qadsiah, seeking greater opportunities for first-team football.
Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, signed in January amid high expectations, has been transferred to Ajax Amsterdam. The Dutch giants hope the 21-year-old can develop into a long-term replacement in their forward line after a difficult domestic campaign.
These departures, together with Darci’s loan and the players frozen out of the Austrian camp, underline the scale of change taking place at Al Hilal as they prepare to defend their league title and compete in continental competition.
Squad rebuild gathers pace
Al Hilal have yet to disclose the full shape of their incoming transfer business, but the volume of exits suggests significant reinforcements are expected before the Saudi transfer window closes.
Darci’s loan to Abha offers him the prospect of a fresh start and regular minutes in the top flight, while allowing Inzaghi and the club’s hierarchy to continue refining a squad expected to challenge on multiple fronts next season.
