Transfer Centre

Al-Hilal sign striker Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham

By Ben Sully | 19 August 2023

Al-Hilal confirm the signing of Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for what the Premier League club describe as a "club record transfer fee".

Aleksandar Mitrovic has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal from Fulham in a club-record deal for the Premier League side.

The Serbia international has joined for a fee believed to be close to £50m and put pen to paper on a lucrative three-year contract.

In a statement, Fulham said: "The club can confirm that Aleksandar Mitrovic has this evening left to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for a club record transfer fee.

"The club had reluctantly accepted a revised offer as the player had consistently made his desire to leave known."

Fulham boss Marco Silva had confirmed Mitrovic's departure following Saturday's disappointing 3-0 defeat to West London neighbours Brentford.

Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring for Fulham on October 20, 2022 © Reuters

Silva told reporters: "He's on his way to leave the club. I got information before the match and now the confirmation from the club after the match that he's on his way to leave the club. Both clubs got an agreement and now is the moment to finish with Mitrovic in our club.

"As you know, he forced everything to leave the club. He wanted to leave the club. Until the moment we had a financial agreement, we kept him in our football club. They have reached an agreement and now is the moment for us to keep playing and working with our team."

The Cottagers had previously rejected offers from Al-Hilal, but Mitrovic was keen to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League club.

The Serbian initially spent time away from the squad during the pre-season tour of the USA, before returning to training ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Silva was asked whether the situation surrounding Mitrovic had affected the club's preparations for the new season.

Fulham manager Marco Silva on April 22, 2023 © Reuters

The Fulham boss said: "If you ask if that is normal, no. If you ask me if football players should behave in this way, no. That is an easy answer. Not just the situation of Mitrovic, our pre-season was not where it should be on many aspects.

"That will not be an excuse for anything. The Premier League has started, I'm not here to find excuses, just that I would like it to not happen again in the future.

"He forced it, I think all of you know it, many of you reported that. It's clear what he did and he forced it. He knows about my opinion, I told him in private."

Mitrovic, who has spent the last five years at Craven Cottage, will leave the West London club after scoring 111 goals in 206 appearances.

The 28-year-old becomes Al-Hilal's latest summer addition following Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom.