Jan ‌11 : Former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has joined Al-Hilal from Serie A side Fiorentina, the Saudi Pro League leaders announced on Sunday.

The ‌move will bolster Al-Hilal’s ‌defence, with Kalidou Koulibaly still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Mari played 16 games with Fiorentina ‍in all competitions this season.

“Al-Hilal have signed a contract with Spanish defender Pablo Mari to join ​Al-Hilal from ‌Italian club Fiorentina on a six-month contract, with an ​option to extend for another year,” ⁠the Saudi club ‌said in a statement.

The ​32-year-old defender won the FA Cup with Arsenal in ‍2020 and lifted the Copa Libertadores ⁠with Brazil’s Flamengo in 2019.

(Reporting ​by Mohamed ‌Yossry in Cairo, ‍editing ​by Christian Radnedge)