Al Hilal sign Benfica’s Carrillo as Omar set to leave Saudi giants

Kuala Lumpur: With the transfer window open, teams are bolstering their ranks ahead of the 2019 AFC Champions League resuming and various national leagues kicking off.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have confirmed the signing of Peru international Andre Carrillo from Portuguese side Benfica.

The 28-year-old South American spent last season on loan with Al Hilal, but has now agreed a four-year-deal which sees him join the 2018-19 Saudi Pro League runners-up on a permanent basis.

Carrillo’s arrival, which was announced on Al Hilal’s social media channels, represents the second major transfer secured by the Riyadh-based club this month, after former South Korean international Jang Hyun-soo was signed from FC Tokyo earlier this month. The club’s hierarchy have also recently confirmed that Al Hilal will not be renewing the contract of UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, while Australian defender Milos Degenek has been sent out on loan to Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade.

Omar joined Al Hilal in a blaze of publicity from Al Ain last August, but was subsequently sidelined for most of the season after he damaged an anterior cruciate ligament just two months after signing for the two-time AFC Champions League runners-up.

Despite subsequently recovering from the injury, Omar is now set to leave Al Hilal after failing to agree a new contract.

“The club’s management started talks with the player before our training camp in Europe, as he had asked to renew his contract before that camp even though there was still one month remaining on his contract,” Al Hilal said in a statement.

In the AFC Champions League, two-time runners-up Al Hilal are scheduled to meet domestic rivals Al Ahli Saudi FC in the first leg of their round of 16 showdown on Aug.6, before hosting the return fixture a week later.