Yassine Bounou's future at Al-Hilal hangs in the balance as the Saudi club considers removing the Moroccan goalkeeper from their domestic league squad. According to media figure Abdulaziz Al-Muraisel, who maintains close ties to the club's management, Al-Hilal are seriously contemplating whether to sideline the former Sevilla and Arsenal keeper in favour of local shot-stopper Mohammed Al-Owais for Saudi Pro League fixtures.
The decision centres on squad registration rules in Saudi football. Al-Hilal have limited slots available for foreign players and need space to accommodate Dutch winger Summerville, whose transfer from West Ham United is expected to be finalized within 48 hours. Should Bounou accept a restricted role—competing only in AFC Champions League Elite matches—the club can preserve his services. However, the 34-year-old goalkeeper refuses to accept such limitations, Al-Hilal will release him permanently this summer, leaving him searching for a new club.
Parallels to Núñez's Situation
This predicament mirrors the fate that befell Darwin Núñez last season. The Uruguay striker was dropped from Al-Hilal's domestic list midway through the campaign and subsequently confined to continental competition only, a bitter pill for a player of his calibre. Bounou now faces similar circumstances, with his Al-Hilal chapter potentially coming to an abrupt end despite being an experienced international goalkeeper who has competed at the highest levels of European football.
The goalkeeper's departure would represent a significant shift in Al-Hilal's transfer strategy as they prioritize strengthening their squad depth across multiple competitions. With the new season approaching, the club's management must balance retaining established talent against accommodating fresh acquisitions within tight foreign-player quotas—a tension that increasingly defines Saudi Pro League recruitment.
Bounou's next move will depend entirely on whether he accepts Al-Hilal's conditional offer or pursues opportunities elsewhere before the transfer window closes.
