Al-Fayha officially release former Manchester United star

Former Manchester United players continue to make headlines across world football, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side suffering a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.

Although Ronaldo’s international campaign has now come to an end, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains one of several former United stars currently playing in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Pro League has attracted a number of high-profile names in recent years.

However, clubs are now beginning to reshape their squads ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

One former Manchester United player has now officially seen his spell in the Middle East come to an end.

Experienced former Red Devils player departs

Al-Fayha have officially confirmed the departure of former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling in a farewell post published on the club’s official X account.

The Saudi Arabian side simply wrote: “Thank you, Chris Smalling. All the best to you for success.”

Smalling joined Al-Fayha during the summer of 2024 after leaving AS Roma, bringing a wealth of experience following successful spells in both the Premier League and Serie A.

Before moving abroad, the centre-back spent 10 seasons at Manchester United after joining from Fulham in 2010.

During his time at Old Trafford, Smalling made more than 300 appearances.

He won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the UEFA Europa League and the Community Shield before departing for Roma in 2020 following an initial loan spell.

The 36-year-old added another chapter to his career by moving to Saudi Arabia two years ago, but that spell has now officially come to an end after Al-Fayha confirmed his exit.

With his contract now finished, Chris Smalling becomes a free agent and will be able to assess his next options ahead of the new season.

Having enjoyed a lengthy career across England, Italy and Saudi Arabia, the former Manchester United star will now look for the next challenge as preparations for the 2026/27 campaign continue.