Asian champions Al Hilal announce departure of star striker Bafetimbi Gomis

Frenchman spent three and a half years with club, winning domestic and continental titles

Al Hilal's Nasser Al Dawsari celebrates with Bafetimbi Gomis after scoring in the 2-0 win against Pohang Steelers in the 2021 Asian Champions League final at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. Reuters

Al Hilal's Nasser Al Dawsari celebrates scoring in their 2-0 win against Pohang Steelers in the 2021 Asian Champions League final at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday, November 23. Reuters

Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari on the attack. AFP

Emirati referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan shows a yellow card to Pohang defender Alex Grant. AFP

Hilal forward Moussa Marega celebrates scoring. AFP

Al Hilal's Matheus Pereira under pressure from Sang-Woo Kang of Pohang Steelers. AFP

Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP

Pohang midfielder Lee Soo-bin and Hilal attacker Moussa Maregabattle for possession. AFP

Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim. Reuters

Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP

Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP

Hilal fans before the game in Riyadh. AFP

Striker Bafetimbi Gomis has left Al Hilal following a hugely decorated period with the Riyadh club.

The Asian champions announced the player's departure early on Tuesday, bringing to an end three and a half years at the Saudi Arabian side. Gomis, 36, joined Hilal in August 2018 from Turkey’s Galatasaray and went on to score 108 goals in 150 matches, becoming one of the most popular players in the club's history.

The Frenchman, who has nine goals in this season’s Saudi Pro league, departs Hilal before they compete in next week’s Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. He is understood to have interest from teams in the Adnoc Pro League.

Gomis’ greatest success at Hilal arrived in the 2019 Asian Champions League, when he top-scored with 11 goals to help fire his club to the continental crown for the first time in 19 years. The former Lyon, Swansea City and Marseille frontman struck his 11th goal of the campaign in the second leg of the final against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, as the Saudis ran out 3-0 winners on aggregate.

Gomis, famed for his "lion" celebration, played another integral role in Hilal winning the 2021 Champions League late last year – the club became the first to capture the trophy four times - scoring six goals.

Domestically, Gomis found the net 27 times in the 2019/20 league season as Hilal were crowned champions – only Al Nassr’s Abderrazak Hamdallah scored more – while last season he won the Golden Boot in another title triumph for Hilal, with 24 goals. Gomis also lifted the 2019/20 King's Cup and last year’s Saudi Super Cup.