(Reuters) - Former Asian Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman has joined Al Hilal on a one-year loan deal from Al Ain, the Saudi Arabian club have announced.
Abdulrahman, who was named the continent's leading player in 2016 when he guided UAE side Al Ain to the final of the Asian Champions League, will join the Jorge Jesus-coached Al Hilal for the upcoming Saudi league season and play alongside current Asian Player of the Year Omar Khrbin.
The 26-year-old Abdulrahman represented Al Hilal at youth level before moving to Al Ain as a teenager and, according to media reports in the region, the midfielder turned down offers from several European clubs to sign with the Riyadh-based side.
Al Hilal kick off the defence of their title at the end of the month when they host Al Feiha.
(Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Editing by Peter Rutherford)