Al-Ittihad Loan Unai Hernandez to Girona for Season

Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement with Girona over a season-long loan for Spanish midfielder Unai Hernandez, in a move that underlines the Jeddah club’s determination to reshape their squad before the new campaign.

According to Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiah, the deal sends Hernandez to La Liga for the entirety of next season, with Girona securing an option to buy at the end of the loan. The Catalan side will cover only a limited portion of his salary, leaving Al-Ittihad to shoulder the bulk of his wages as part of the arrangement.

It marks a sharp turn in the 20-year-old’s trajectory since his arrival in Saudi Arabia. Hernandez joined Al-Ittihad from Barcelona in February 2025 on a three-year contract, billed as one of the “Doyen’s” promising talents and a long-term midfield project.

He started brightly. Ten appearances, one goal, three assists. Then the minutes vanished.

By last season, his role had shrunk dramatically. He featured just once for Al-Ittihad, against Al-Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final, and even that outing did little to revive his standing in the squad.

The club sent him on loan to Al-Shabab for the second half of the campaign, hoping regular football would unlock his form. He played 31 matches there, but the numbers told a stark story: no goals, one assist.

Now comes a different kind of test. Girona, a club that has built a reputation on sharp recruitment and clever use of young talent, offers Hernandez a fresh stage and a familiar environment back in Spain.

For Al-Ittihad, it is a calculated move. They trim their wage bill, open space in midfield, and keep the possibility of a permanent sale on the table.

For Hernandez, it may be simpler than that: one season to prove he still belongs at the level he once seemed destined for.