Unai Hernandez Loaned to Girona by Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement with Girona to send Spanish midfielder Unai Hernandez to La Liga on loan, as the Jeddah club continue their squad overhaul ahead of the new season.

Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiah report that the deal is for a season-long loan and includes an option for Girona to buy the player outright once the spell ends. The Catalan side will pay only a limited portion of his salary, with Al-Ittihad still covering the bulk of his wages after signing him on a long-term deal.

The Al-Ittihad board had weighed up Girona’s proposal, eventually signing off on a structure that keeps them financially tied to the player while giving him a fresh platform in Spain.

Hernandez joined Al-Ittihad from Barcelona in February 2025 on a three-year contract, arriving as part of the club’s push to add European-trained talent to their midfield. He started brightly: 10 appearances, one goal, three assists. Then the minutes disappeared.

Last season told the story of that decline. He featured just once for Al-Ittihad, against Al-Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final, before being moved on loan to Al-Shabab for the second half of the campaign. There he played regularly – 31 matches – but without scoring and with only a single assist to show for it.

Now comes a different kind of test. Girona, with their high-tempo, possession-heavy style, offer Hernandez a route back into European football and a chance to prove he belongs at that level. For Al-Ittihad, it is a calculated move: one more step in reshaping a midfield that never quite found the right balance, and a decision that could yet turn into a permanent exit if Girona trigger their option.