Al-Shabab unveil Al-Bulaihi with caption some view as dig at Al-Hilal | OneFootball

Al-Shabab have signed Saudi international defender Ali Al-Bulaihi on a one-season deal, unveiling him with wording some interpreted as a swipe at neighbours Al-Hilal.

The club confirmed the agreement on X. According to Goal.com, the caption presented him as being at the biggest club in the capital, a phrase often used by Al-Hilal supporters for their own team.

The 36-year-old joined on a free transfer, only hours after Al-Hilal announced a financial settlement with him in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

It is a return to Al-Shabab for Al-Bulaihi, who spent the second half of last season there on loan from Al-Hilal.

He leaves Al-Hilal after nine years, having arrived from Al-Fateh in the summer of 2017.

Across his spell he made 263 appearances in all competitions and scored 23 goals, helping the club lift 14 trophies. Those included five Saudi League titles and two AFC Champions League crowns.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”