After Sevilla’s dramatic European Super Cup clash with Manchester City ended in a 1-1 draw and penalties, Moroccan goalkeeper Yasin Bono was transferred to Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Sevilla confirmed the move on Thursday evening, completing a transfer that had been in motion following the match in Athens where the Seville side did not advance to lift the trophy.
Bono, a cornerstone for the team under manager José Luis Mendilibar, first joined European football in 2019 when he left his homeland for Saudi Arabia. The reported transfer value is just over 20 million euros, though Sevilla did not disclose the full terms of the deal in their official statement. The Moroccan international, now 32, leaves with a four-year tenure at Sevilla that solidified his status as a trusted presence between the posts.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Bono closes his Sevilla chapter after 142 appearances, during which he conceded 58 goals. His time in Andalusia included two Europa League titles (2020 and 2023) and the Zamora Cup, achievements that cemented him among the club’s memorable personalities. He also earned recognition for his performances in the 2021-22 season, which culminated in his inclusion in FIFA’s Best awards as one of the planet’s top goalkeepers that year. His willingness to surge forward and contribute to attacking plays was notable, including a late goal he scored after joining the attack in a league match at Valladolid that led to a draw for Sevilla.
Sevilla’s official statement noted Bono would bid farewell to the club with an upcoming ceremony as he begins a new chapter. The club wished him luck and thanked him for his contributions, highlighting the bond he built with teammates and supporters throughout his tenure.
Bono arrived at Sevilla in the summer of 2019 on a loan from Girona, with a four-million-euro purchase option that Sevilla exercised at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. He stepped into the starting role as Tomas Vaclík receded, and his rise gained momentum as football faced a pandemic interruption. His standout moments included a commanding display against Wolverhampton in the Europa League quarterfinals, helping Sevilla reach the late stages of both domestic and European competitions. He also performed strongly against elite sides such as Manchester United in the semifinals and Inter Milan in the league, as Sevilla made a deep run in relevance on multiple fronts.
During the 2020-21 season Bono featured regularly, tallying 45 appearances across La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey. In 2021-22 he continued to compete for a place in goal against Serbian goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović, strengthening Sevilla’s defensive structure. The season proved historic for Bono as he contributed to Sevilla’s Zamora Cup triumph, a testament to his shot-stopping efficiency with one of the best defensive records in La Liga, recording a low goals-conceded rate across 31 appearances. His 24 goals conceded in those matches translated into a remarkable 0.77 goals per game ratio, underscoring his role as a stabilizing force for the team.
The 2022-23 campaign saw Bono featured in 36 matches across La Liga, the Champions League, Copa del Rey, and the Europa League. He delivered crucial saves in high-profile ties against Manchester United and Juventus, reinforcing his status as a top-tier goalkeeper in European football. Sevilla’s success continued as the club captured another Europa League title, with Bono delivering decisive performances in the final shootout and contributing to the squad’s overall resilience in the cup run that season. The goalkeeper’s contributions throughout this period were instrumental in Sevilla’s continued presence on the continental stage and in domestic competition alike.
As Bono embarks on this new phase with Al-Hilal, the broader trajectory of his career illustrates how a player from North America can ascend to prominent roles in European football and then transition to one of Asia’s rising powers. His experience across domestic leagues, European competitions, and international recognition positions him as a veteran with a proven track record in high-stakes matches. Sevilla’s farewell acknowledges a player who helped shape the club’s recent history, while Al-Hilal gains a goalkeeper with a combination of shot-stopping acumen and leadership that can influence performances at the highest levels of club football in Asia and beyond.