Al-Hilal Saudi Club announced today, in an official statement, the termination of the contractual relationship with international midfielder Abdul-Ilah Al-Malki by mutual consent between the two parties, bringing to a close a difficult period that the player experienced within the walls of "Al-Za'eem", thus making him a free agent who has the right to sign for any club during the current winter transfer period without referring to Al-Hilal management.
The details of Al-Maliki's relationship with Al-Hilal date back to January 2022, when the Riyadh-based club signed him from Al-Ittihad on a long-term, four-year contract, amidst high expectations that he would become a key player in the team's midfield and for the Saudi national team. However, things didn't go as planned, as the player's ambitions were hampered by a series of serious injuries that significantly hampered his career.
Al-Maliki's journey was far from smooth sailing, as he suffered a devastating blow when he tore his cruciate ligament while representing the Saudi national team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, an injury that sidelined him for an extended period. Despite returning in September of the same year, misfortune struck again when he suffered a second cruciate ligament injury during a derby match against his former club, Al-Ittihad, in January 2023. This second injury, occurring in such a short period, came as a major shock to the Saudi sports community, as it was a significant setback for Al-Maliki.
In an attempt to help him regain his form and match fitness, Al-Hilal's management decided to loan the player to Al-Ettifaq for one season last year. Following the loan's end, Al-Maliki returned to Al-Hilal at the beginning of last summer, but he found it extremely difficult to secure a regular starting position under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, given the presence of prominent international and local players in midfield.
Statistics indicate that Al-Maliki's participation this season was limited to only 6 matches, totaling just 263 minutes of playing time – a rate that falls short of the ambitions of an international player seeking a return to the national team. Consequently, both parties agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent, allowing the player the opportunity to pursue a new challenge that guarantees him consistent playing time.
Regarding his next destination, Abdul-Ilah Al-Malki is very close to joining Al-Diriyah FC, a first-division club in the Yellow League, on a free transfer. This potential move comes as Al-Diriyah seeks to strengthen its squad with experienced players capable of leading the team towards promotion and competing for the title, capitalizing on Al-Malki's technical and leadership abilities despite his recent injury woes.
