Official! Centre-back snubs Benfica renewal, joins Al Hilal | OneFootball

It is official: Christy Ucheibe has signed for Al Hilal’s women’s football team in Saudi Arabia, just as Glorioso 1904 had previously reported exclusively. The 25-year-old Nigerian centre-back thus brings to an end a six-season spell with Benfica, where she left a significant mark over the course of 179 appearances in the red shirt.

During her time at the Club from Luz, Ucheibe contributed directly to the team’s success, recording 11 goals and 11 assists, in addition to winning 15 titles with the eagle on her chest. The defender established herself as one of the squad’s key figures.

The player’s value has grown significantly in recent years, with Ucheibe cementing her status as a Nigeria international. In 2024, she experienced one of the most important moments of her career by becoming African champion with her national team, further increasing the recognition surrounding her journey.

In a statement, Benfica made a point of highlighting the centre-back’s development over the six years she was with the Club: “Christy matured in football and in her commitment to the team’s daily routines, achieved Nigeria international status — becoming African champion in 2024 — and built great rapport with Benfica supporters, on and off the pitch,” the official note reads.

The departure comes after Benfica had made an offer to renew the player’s contract. However, Ucheibe chose not to continue at Luz, given the existence of a financially more attractive offer from Saudi Arabia.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.