Al-Ittihad have drawn a clear line in their squad planning – and Stefan Cleary now finds himself on the adventurous side of it.
On Tuesday evening, “The Dean” confirmed that the young attacker will spend the rest of the current season on loan at Belgian side Beveren, a move designed less as a farewell and more as a proving ground.
The club announced on their official X account that they had accepted Beveren’s request, signing off on a temporary deal that runs until the end of the campaign. Cleary leaves “The Tigers” for now, trading the heat and scrutiny of Al-Ittihad for the different rhythm of Belgian football.
This is not a case of a player being quietly pushed out of the door. Al-Ittihad want him playing – every week, under pressure, with responsibility. Inside the club, the message is simple: minutes matter more than cameos. Beveren offers him that platform, the chance to grow into the kind of regular, reliable performer who can return and compete in a crowded Al-Ittihad dressing room.
The plan is straightforward. Cleary is expected to stay with Beveren until the season closes, then report back to Al-Ittihad unless fresh twists emerge around his future. The door remains open, but what he does in Belgium will decide how wide.
Before he left, the hierarchy at Al-Ittihad made sure the move carried the right tone. They sent him off with public backing and private encouragement, wishing him success and making it clear they expect a more polished, more experienced player to come back from Europe.
His departure is part of a broader strategy. Al-Ittihad are reshaping their squad with intent this season, blending new arrivals with carefully chosen loans. Some players are being challenged at home, others – like Cleary – are being pushed to sharpen their game abroad, all while competition for places inside the team grows fiercer by the week.
So Cleary turns the page. From Jeddah to Beveren, from potential to proof. If this loan delivers the game time and edge Al-Ittihad demand, his next return to the club will not be as a prospect, but as a genuine option.
