RIYADH — In a major move, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal announced the official signing of Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from Spain's Sevilla FC on Thursday. The decision came after Al Hilal's coach, Jorge Jesus, recommended the acquisition of a foreign goalkeeper due to his reservations about the performance of their current goalkeeping player. The club's social media account on X,formely Twitter, released a video celebrating the signing of Bounou, with the caption "Always Hilal... Always Blue." Bounou arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, early Friday, ahead of his introduction to the fans before Al Hilal's match against Al-Fayha on Saturday. The cost of signing the international Moroccan player for Al-Hilal is estimated at €21 million. This sum will be paid to Sevilla FC in exchange for releasing Bounou for the remaining two years of his contract, which was due to expire in the summer of 2025. The 32-year-old goalkeeper will receive an annual salary of €12 million from Al-Hilal. Bounou gained prominence during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, shining for the Moroccan national team. His continued excellence with Sevilla FC made him a sought-after option in the summer transfer market, with Real Madrid considering him as a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois before eventually signing Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Al Hilal's acquisition of Bounou was made possible with the backing of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The Saudi prince's financial support facilitated the signing of Bounou from Sevilla FC, adding a significant boost to the club's roster.
