Overview

• Al-Hilal have signed France left-back Theo Hernandez on a three-year contract for a reported €25 million fee.
• AC Milan chose to cash in this summer after contract extension talks with Hernandez broke down rather than risk losing him on a free transfer in 2026.
• Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko has emerged as Milan’s primary target to fill the left-back vacancy ahead of the new Serie A season.
• Hernandez’s departure to Saudi Arabia raises fresh questions over his selection by France coach Didier Deschamps with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away.
• The transfer underscores the Saudi Pro League’s growing pull on European stars under high-profile managers such as Simone Inzaghi.