Al Shabab have announced the signing of Saudi Arabia international defender Ali Al-Bulaihi in a move that has drawn attention because of the wording used to confirm his return to the club.
The 36-year-old has signed a one-season contract with Al Shabab as a free agent, shortly after Al-Hilal announced that it had reached a financial settlement with the defender and ended his contract.
However, it was not the agreement itself that created the main talking point. In a post on the club’s official account on X, Al Shabab presented the announcement with the caption: “Ali Al-Bulaihi in the capital’s biggest club”.
The phrase “the capital’s biggest club” is commonly used by Al-Hilal supporters to describe their team. Its use by Al Shabab was therefore viewed by some as a deliberate provocation aimed at their neighbours and rivals.
The club also published a graphic featuring Al-Bulaihi in Al Shabab’s black-and-white colours alongside the hashtag associated with the phrase.
Al-Bulaihi will now return to Al Shabab, where he previously spent the second half of last season on loan from Al-Hilal. His latest move brings him back to the club on a permanent free transfer, with the agreement running until the end of the coming season.
His departure ends a nine-year association with Al-Hilal. Al-Bulaihi joined the Riyadh club in the summer of 2017 from Al Fateh and went on to become an important part of a side that collected domestic and continental honours.
During his time at Al-Hilal, the centre-back made 263 appearances in all competitions and scored 23 goals. He helped the club win 14 trophies, including five Saudi league titles and two AFC Champions League crowns.
The defender’s exit was confirmed by Al-Hilal in the early hours of Tuesday, when the club announced that it had completed the financial clearance procedures with him.
Al Shabab’s announcement means Al-Bulaihi will continue his career in the Saudi top flight while returning to a club he already knows. His previous loan spell came during the second half of last season, before the conclusion of his long-term stay with Al-Hilal.
The choice of language in the announcement has added an extra layer to the transfer. Rather than simply confirming the signing, Al Shabab used a description strongly associated with Al-Hilal’s fanbase, creating an immediate reaction among supporters of both clubs.
Al-Bulaihi’s nine seasons with Al-Hilal included a period in which the club established itself as one of the leading teams in Saudi and Asian football. His record of 263 appearances, 23 goals and 14 trophies is now part of his history with the club, while his next chapter will begin with Al Shabab on a one-year contract.
