Chelsea have confirmed the exit of defender Kalidou Koulibaly on a permanent deal this summer, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The centre-back is one of a number of stars set to leave Stamford Bridge for the Saudi Pro League, with N'Golo Kante already making the switch on a free transfer to Al-Ittihad.
Koulibaly was one of the first signings of the Boehly-Clearlake era just one year ago, making the move from Napoli to help bolster the defensive ranks. While the experienced defender was tasked with filling the gaps left by Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, he was unable to reach the heights.
The 32-year-old struggled to adjust to the Premier League, following many years in which he has been linked with a move to England. Midway through the campaign, Koulibaly went to the World Cup in Qatar, where he captained Senegal to a last-16 finish, where they were knocked out by England.
His return to Stamford Bridge saw sporadic starts as the arrival of Benoit Badiashile meant there was greater competition for places in the backline. The centre-back ended the season with 32 appearances for Chelsea, but unfortunately for both parties, the move hasn't worked out as planned.
It's resulted in a transfer away as the west London outfit look to trim their squad during the summer transfer window, with Mauricio Pochettino taking charge. Koulibaly joins Al-Hilal on a move worth roughly £20million, with a statement from the Blues reading: "Kalidou Koulibaly has left Chelsea after completing a permanent transfer to Saudi Professional League side Al-Hilal."
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"We would like to thank Kalidou for his contributions on and off the pitch during his time at Stamford Bridge and wish him well for the next stage of his career."
Further deals are expected to shape up the squad for Pochettino, with Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy set to make the move to the Saudi Pro League too.
