Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Theo Hernandez Set to Leave AC Milan for Al Hilal in €25m Deal

The French Star’s Saudi Switch Sparks Questions About His Future With the National Team.

Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez is set to leave the club this summer. He is on the brink of completing a transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. This is certainly a surprising turn in the French international’s career. The 27-year-old left-back joined Milan from Real Madrid in 2019.

After a good time with the Italian side, he agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal weeks ago. Reportedly, the player and the club are now ready to finalize the move after the conclusion of the Club World Cup. According to Fabrizio Romano, an agreement involving Theo Hernandez was sealed.

🚨🔵 BREAKING: Theo Hernández to Al Hilal, here we go! Agreement now being sealed after verbal pact made two weeks ago.

AC Milan will receive €25m transfer fee as Theo will sign his contract in the upcoming days.

New left back for Simone Inzaghi. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/5vRxgQtNnG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2025

This comes after a “verbal pact was made two weeks ago. AC Milan will receive €25m transfer fee as Theo will sign his contract in the upcoming days,” said Romano on social media. Milan initially sought €30m for the player. However, negotiations settled on a €25m deal, potentially including add-ons.

Hernandez had one year left on his contract, while Milan failed to secure an extension. As a result, they accelerated their decision to cash in on the player. Notably, he has not joined the squad under new coach Massimiliano Allegri for pre-season training. Hernandez’s Milan journey has been impressive.

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He made 262 appearances, scored 34 goals, and provided 45 assists across all competitions. He won the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana with the club. His consistent performances also made him a fan favorite. However, his form reportedly declined in recent months amid off-field uncertainties.

Theo Hernandez International Future in Focus

The move to Saudi Arabia raises questions about Hernandez’s place in Didier Deschamps’ France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite his dip in form, Hernandez has been a regular for Les Bleus. He started at Euro 2024 and played a full 90 minutes in the Nations League semi-final against Spain.

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With limited options at left-back for France, Theo’s place may still be secure. Additionally, Lucas Hernandez has a number of fitness concerns and potential international retirement rumours are surrounding Ferland Mendy. Meanwhile, youngsters like Quentin Merlin and Adrien Truffert are yet to fully establish themselves.

There is precedent for players thriving internationally despite Saudi moves. N’Golo Kante remained key for France even after his Al-Ittihad switch last year. Al-Hilal is one of the Saudi league’s strongest sides. That may help Hernandez maintain his competitive edge.

AC Milan

Al Hilal

France

Theo Hernandez

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.