Roberto Firmino has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli as a free agent after he left Liverpool at the end of last season.
What happened to Roberto Firmino?
The 31-year-old Brazil International saw his contract with the English Premier League outfit expires at the end of the 2022/2023 season and departed from the club after his final match.
The former Hoffenheim forward put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Saudi Arabia outfit that will run through the summer of 2026.
The Brazilian forward will link up with former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who recently joined the Saudi Arabia Professional League club in June 2023.
Al Ahli won the Saudi Arabian second tier league last season to gain promotion to the Saudi Pro League, which has been garnished with a surplus of high-profile football players since Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking £175m-a-year move to Al-Nassr in January 2023.
The decision made in June by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, to acquire four leading clubs in the country is indicative of this trend and of the league’s aspirations to be among the top five in the world.
Roberto Firmino with Liverpool
The 31-year-old joined the Reds from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015 on a five years deal.
During his eight-year period at Anfield, Firmino provided 111 goals and 79 assists from 362 appearances, ascertaining a significant part in Jurgen Klopp’s front three.
Firmino was a component of a ruthless attack along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and in his eight years spell at Liverpool, the Brazilian won several domestic and European trophies.
Liverpool’s success in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup was greatly aided by Firmino’s efforts. At the end of his time at Anfield, though, the legendary footballer was pushed to the sidelines by the wind of change.
The Brazilian frequently slid down into the midfield to grab the ball and set up chances for Liverpool’s forwards Mane and Salah and was renowned for his fast feet and excellent link-up play in such situations.
Firmino, who spent much of his final season on the Reds’ bench, managed to play 35 times and score 13 goals before saying a tearful farewell to the Liverpool fans.
Firmino scored the lone goal that Liverpool needed to defeat Flamengo and claim the prestigious Fifa Club World Cup in December 2019.
Roberto Firmimo’s Liverpool farewell
After the final game of the season, teammates and supporters gave Firmino a rousing ovation in honor of their time together.
During his departure, Firmino took to his Instagram page to pen an emotional farewell, he wrote: “My last match in Anfield was incredible, and my whole time in Liverpool has been nothing but Wonderful”.
He added; “I will never forget the roar of the Kop and the passion from all of you, promising to forever carry the memories of this great club in my heart”.
However, Roberto Firmino was not the only Liverpool player to depart the Reds this summer, as James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita also departed the club at the end of their contracts.
Firmino, 31, has made headlines this summer by joining the Saudi Pro League. He has 55 caps for Brazil and proves that age is just a number.
Firmino has followed the footsteps of Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema and ex-Chelsea superstar N’Golo Kante who joined Saudi champions Al-Ittihad on a massive contract last month. While former Premier League stars Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly have signed with Al-Hilal as the latest big names signed by the Saudis.
What’s next for Roberto Firmino?
Firmino will link up with Al-Ahli as they proceed to assemble for the 2023/2024 Saudi Pro League season.
