Stefan Cleary Joins Beveren on Loan from Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad have opened the door for Stefan Cleary to step out and grow up. On Tuesday evening, “The Dean” confirmed that the young forward will join Belgian side Beveren on loan until the end of the current season.

The move, announced on the club’s official X account, is simple in structure but loaded with intent. Cleary leaves “The Tigers” only temporarily, trading the heat and spotlight of Al-Ittihad for a tougher, more anonymous test on Belgian soil. The message from Jeddah is clear: go and play, then come back better.

Al-Ittihad want him on the pitch, not on the bench. With competition for attacking places fierce, regular minutes at Beveren offer something he could not be guaranteed at home – rhythm, responsibility, and the chance to make mistakes without the noise that surrounds every Al-Ittihad performance.

The club hierarchy made a point of backing him publicly before his departure, sending a message of support and wishing him success in Belgium. They expect him to return a more complete, more experienced player when the campaign closes, unless fresh developments reshape his future in the coming months.

This is not an isolated decision, but part of a wider strategy. Al-Ittihad are reshaping their squad, adding new faces while allowing others to sharpen their game abroad. Every move is made under the pressure of internal competition and external expectation, with the club trying to keep the group hungry, lean and ready for the demands of the season.

So Cleary heads to Beveren with his club’s blessing and a clear brief: earn game time, find sharper form, and turn potential into something more concrete. The next few months in Belgium will say a lot about whether he returns to Al-Ittihad as a squad option – or as a genuine contender.