(FILES) This file photo taken on July 30, 2020 shows Paulinho of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrating after scoring during the Chinese Super League (CSL) football match with Guangzhou R&F in Dalian in China’s northeastern Liaoning province. – Paulinho was described June 21, 2021 as the best foreign player in Chinese Super League history after the Brazilian international left Fabio Cannavaro’s Guangzhou FC. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT
Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli have parted ways with former Brazil midfielder Paulinho by mutual consent due to emergency circumstances, the club said on Saturday, less than two months after the 33-year-old signed for the Jeddah-based team.
Paulinho joined Al Ahli as a free agent on a three-year deal in July after his contract with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou FC was canceled by mutual consent.
He scored two goals in four matches for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League this season.
“The termination of the contract with Paulinho comes due (to) the emergency circumstances,” Al Ahli tweeted.
AL AHLI ends the relationship with the Brazilian player “ PAULINHO “ #AHLIFC pic.twitter.com/UvcTwp9ACA
— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) September 18, 2021
Paulinho led Guangzhou to the Asian Champions League title in 2015 after joining the club from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and initially spent two seasons in China, winning consecutive Chinese Super League titles.
He moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2017 before returning to Guangzhou the following year and winning a third Chinese Super League title in 2019.