Aug 19, 2023, 04:42 PM ET
Serbia forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has joined Saudi side Al Hilal from Fulham, the two clubs announced on Saturday.
Mitrovic, Fulham’s top scorer in four of the last five seasons, did not play in the Premier League club’s 3-0 loss to Brentford on Saturday after being injured in the opening game of the season at Everton last weekend.
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Fulham manager Marco Silva later acknowledged that they had reluctantly agreed to let the 28-year-old leave.
“I got information before the match and now the confirmation from the club after the match too that he’s on his way to leave the club,” the Portuguese told reporters at Craven Cottage.
“Both clubs they got an agreement and now is the moment to finish the era of Mitrovic in our club.
“He forced everything to leave the club, he wanted to leave the club,” he added. “In the end they reached an agreement and now is the moment for us to keep playing and working without him.”
Silva did not provide any details about the deal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Fulham manager Marco Silva on the touchline during their opening Premier League game at Everton last week. Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images
Mitrovic has three years left on his contract and Fulham last month rejected multiple offers from Al Hilal, who have also signed Brazil’s Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
ESPN reported that Riyadh-based Al Hilal had since come back with an improved offer of £46 million ($58m), which was believed to be close to Fulham’s asking price.
Silva said Fulham would seek to replace Mitrovic within the transfer window but it would not be easy.
“Unfortunately for me as manager we have four or five players to sign in 15 days. The striker position and striker market is not an easy one,” he said.
“Many clubs are looking for the same. We are going to do our best to do it.
“We have to find the right player to replace him. If not we’re going to face the Premier League with the players we have here.”
Information from ESPN’s James Olley contributed to this report.
