Al-Ahli, the Saudi Arabian side, has confirmed the deal with former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino. The 31-year-old parted ways with Anfield as his contract expired after joining them in 2015 from Hoffenheim.
Roberto Firmino joins Saudi Arabia following his free transfer from Liverpool
As Roberto Firmino comes to Saudi Arabia, he joins Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who joined the Saudi Professional League last month.
Firmino had been an integral part of the ruthless attack along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. In his eighth year’s tenure with Liverpool, he won Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup.
Firmino wasn’t the only one who parted ways with Liverpool this summer, James Miller, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and Naby Keita departed the club as their respective deals ended with the club.
In his eight-year-long span with the club, Firmino hammered 111 goals and 79 assists in his 362 appearances. It helped him develop a key part in Jurgen Klopp’s front three.
The Brazilian forward is best noted for his quick feet in tight spaces and wise link-up play with Mane and Salah, often going deep into the midfield to get the ball and create for Liverpool’s forward.
AI Ahli won Saudi Arabia’s second tier last season
After Al Ahli won Saud Arabia’s second tier last season, they earned promotion back to the Saudi Arabian Pro League, which has been studded with a glut of high-profile stars like Cristiano Ronaldo’s breathtaking £175m-a-year move to Al-Nassar in January.
Karim Benzema and former Chelsea superstar N’Golo Kante joined Saudi Champions AI-Ittihad on steller contracts last month. Also, former Premier League stars Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly have come to Al-Hilal.
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