PARIS — Al Hilal has announced the signing of 21-year-old Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo from Portuguese club Benfica. The young forward joins as one of the two foreign players allowed in the newly created under-21 category for international players this summer in Saudi football. Initial negotiations between Al Hilal and Benfica revolved around a transfer fee of €30 to €35 million, but Benfica officials extended the discussions, eventually agreeing to a €40 million fee to finalize the deal. The signing aligns with the strong desire of Al Hilal's Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus to secure the young Brazilian talent. After passing a medical examination in Portugal, Leonardo traveled to Paris, where he signed a five-year contract with Al Hilal at the Four Seasons George V hotel on Monday. The deal includes an annual salary of €5 million, with the contract set to run until the summer of 2029. The signing was overseen by Al Hilal's Chairman of the Board, Fahd bin Nafel.
