SENEGAL captain Kalidou Koulibaly has joined Saudi Arabia Pro League club Al Hilal from Chelsea, both clubs and the player have confirmed.
Koulibaly, 32, is the latest player from the European leagues to join the Saudi Arabian revolution, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
The centre-back is teaming up with Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, who made a €55m switch from Wolves to Al Hilal last week.
The deal is believed to have cost Al Hilal €23m and is for three years.
“Kalidou Koulibaly has left Chelsea after completing a permanent transfer to Saudi Professional League side Al-Hilal,” the Premier League club confirmed tonight on their official website as the Saudi side announced on social media.
“The centre-back arrived from Napoli last summer and made 32 appearances for the Blues during his sole campaign at Stamford Bridge.
“We would like to thank Kalidou for his contributions on and off the pitch during his time at Stamford Bridge and wish him well for the next stage of his career.”
Koulibaly, who was Napoli captain and had spent eight years with the Italian champions before making the €38m move to Chelsea last season, left a note of thanks for the English club.
“From my first game to my last, it was an honour to wear this badge.
Last season wasn’t the one we wanted, but I want to thank the fans and everyone at the club for your support,” he wrote on Twitter.
