Former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino will be unable to play for Al-Ahli during the remainder of their Saudi Pro League campaign.
Firmino, 33, has scored five goals in 17 league games for the Jeddah club this season and has worn the captain’s armband on multiple occasions.
However, he was recently dropped from the club’s Pro League squad list to make space for January signing Galeno.
Saudi clubs are only permitted to have a maximum of 10 foreign players in their Pro League squads and Galeno, like Firmino, is Brazilian.
Galeno joined Al-Ahli from Porto late last month for a fee in the region of £42million.
‘It was a difficult decision for the club and based on the rules,’ Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle explained.
Roberto Firmino, 33, will be unable to play for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League again this season
He featured in 17 league games for Al-Ahli this season before being dropped from the squad
Firmino’s replacement in Al-Ahli’s Saudi Pro League squad was new £42million signing Galeno
On Firmino, Jaissle added: ‘We appreciate him and he dealt with it professionally. He’s still one of our leaders.’
Despite being ruled out of Al-Ahli’s last 15 Pro League games this season, Firmino is still eligible to play in the AFC Champions League.
Al-Ahli have won six of their opening seven games in Champions League Group B, guaranteeing them a place in the knockout phase.
However, Firmino could potentially be tempted to leave Al-Ahli before the end of the current campaign.
His contract is not due to expire until June 2026 but Al-Ahli may be open to the idea of releasing him early if he finds a suitable new club.
