Stefan Cleary Joins Beveren on Loan from Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad have opened the door for Stefan Cleary to step out and grow.

The Jeddah club confirmed on Tuesday evening that the youngster will join Belgian side Beveren on loan until the end of the current season, a move officially announced through Al-Ittihad’s X account. It is a temporary goodbye, not a permanent break, but it carries real weight for the player’s future.

Cleary leaves “The Tigers” to test himself in a new league, on new pitches, far from the comfort of his current surroundings. Al-Ittihad want him playing, not waiting. Regular minutes have been hard to guarantee amid fierce competition inside the squad, so the club has chosen a different route: send him where he can play, learn, and come back sharper.

The plan is clear. Barring any fresh twists over the coming months, Cleary will stay with Beveren until the campaign ends, then return to Al-Ittihad with more experience and, they hope, a stronger claim for a place.

Before he departed, the club’s hierarchy made sure he did not leave quietly. They sent a public message of support, wishing him success in Belgium and making it clear they expect him to come back a better, more seasoned footballer.

His exit is not an isolated move. It slots into a broader Al-Ittihad strategy this season: refresh the squad, introduce new faces, and send others out to refine their game abroad. The competition for places is intense, and the club is using every tool available to keep the group sharp.

So Stefan Cleary’s story with Al-Ittihad pauses, but it does not end. He heads to Beveren with the club’s blessing, chasing game time, form, and genuine development in Belgium. What he brings back with him could shape his role in Jeddah for years to come.