Football Transfers: Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to join Neymar at Al Hilal in Saudi Pro League

London: Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is the latest big-name signing for Al Hilal, the Riyadh-based club announced on Sunday. The Saudi Pro League side, which signed Brazil’s Neymar last week, posted a picture on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, of Mitrovic being presented with his team jersey with the caption “Mitrovic is Hilali until 2026.” Mitrovic, Fulham’s top scorer in four of the last five seasons, was absent from his team’s 3-0 loss to Brentford on Saturday, after getting injured in Fulham’s opening match of the English Premier League season against Everton last week. The 28-year-old striker’s contract with Fulham ran until 2026 and the west London club reportedly knocked back multiple offers from Al Hilal, which signed Neymar from Paris Saint Germain for a reported €90 million ($98 million).

🎬 Here to bring it all 💪🏻#Mitro_Hilali 💙 pic.twitter.com/RLm1ayHOgz

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 19, 2023

Al Hilal, a record 18-time national champion, is one of four Saudi clubs effectively nationalised by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). ESPN reported that Al Hilal’s latest offer of £46 million ($58m) was close to Fulham’s asking price, with the club reluctantly agreeing. “I got information before the match and now the confirmation from the club after the match too that he’s on his way to leave the club,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said at Craven Cottage after the loss to Brentford. “Both clubs they got an agreement and now is the moment to finish the era of Mitrovic in our club," he added.