Al-Ittihad Loan Stefan Cleary to Beveren for Development

Al-Ittihad have opened the door to a new chapter for Stefan Cleary, signing off on a loan move that will take the young talent to Belgian side Beveren until the end of the current season.

The decision, confirmed on Tuesday evening via the club’s official X account, is clear in its intent. Al-Ittihad want Cleary playing, not waiting. Minutes on the pitch, not promises on the bench.

So he leaves “The Tigers” for now, trading the heat and intensity of Al-Ittihad’s internal competition for the different challenge of Belgian football. The move gives him a platform to test himself in a new environment, in a league where young players often grow quickly or fade just as fast.

Behind the scenes, this is no impulsive exit. The club hierarchy view Cleary’s departure as part of a broader squad strategy. With new signings arriving and standards rising, Al-Ittihad are carefully managing who stays in the fold and who needs seasoning elsewhere. Some players are being trusted to sharpen up abroad, then return ready to compete for serious roles.

Cleary fits that mould. Still at the stage where regular football matters more than status, he heads to Beveren with a clear mandate: play, learn, come back stronger.

Before he left, Al-Ittihad’s management sent him off with a message of support, backing him publicly and privately, and expressing hope that he will return from Belgium a more mature, more experienced footballer. The tone was not farewell, but “see you soon.”

Unless something changes over the coming months, Cleary is expected to stay with Beveren until the end of the campaign before rejoining Al-Ittihad. What happens after that will depend on how he handles this loan – how many minutes he earns, how quickly he adapts, how much he grows.

For now, the path is simple. A young player, a new country, a season-defining opportunity. Cleary leaves with the blessing of Al-Ittihad, chasing game time, sharper form and real development on Belgian soil.