Al Ahli Club has today announced the signing of 23-year-old South Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on a three-year deal, throwing club captain Luis Jimenez’s future up in the air.
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Jimenez is currently the club’s designated Asian player as a Chile-Palestine duel-national citizen, but the arrival of Kyung-won would mean he would have to vacate that slot.
The 30-year-old has grown disgruntled at the AGL champions after seeing first Hugo Viana be sidelined and sold, and then good friend Grafite forced out of the door to join Qatar’s Al Sadd.
A source close to Jimenez last week told Sport360: “Grafite and Jimenez’s family used to socialise together when they were in Dubai and to see him leave has upset him.
“A move away is now possible in the next week, with several clubs already expressing interest in him. Offers have been made to Ahli, but none have been accepted yet – let’s see what happens.”
Since then club captain Grafite’s departure, Jimenez has worn Ahli’s captain’s armband and the former Inter Milan man has been instrumental for the club since joining back in August 2011.
Bani Yas, Argentine Primera Division holders Racing Club, Chinese Super League runners-up Beijing Guoan and Chilean Primera Division outfit Colo-Colo have all registered an interest with Ahli for Jimenez but it is believed that no offer has been made so far.