PARIS — Saudi Arabian football club Al Hilal announced on Wednesday the signing of Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi from French side Olympique Marseille, marking the club's first acquisition in the winter transfer window. Lodi is set to replace the injured Neymar Jr. The club shared a video on social media featuring Lodi in Paris, under the title "Destination Saudi Arabia." In the video, Lodi conveyed his enthusiasm and anticipation for joining Al Hilal. Lodi will be with Al Hilal for a three-and-a-half-year term, extending through 2027. This transfer follows his recent move from Atlético Madrid to Marseille last summer. This signing is particularly significant for Al Hilal as the Saudi Pro League limits each club to registering eight foreign players. Before acquiring Lodi, Al Hilal already had seven foreign players on their roster. These include Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Brazilian Malcom, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Aleksandar Mitrović, Rúben Neves, and Brazilian winger Michael. Al Hilal currently leads the Saudi league, holding 53 points and a seven-point advantage over their nearest competitor, Al Nassr.
