Theo Hernandez: Transfer to Al-Hilal, Salary and Career

Theo Hernandez’s career arc reads like a modern football fairy tale with a very expensive twist. After failing to break through at Real Madrid, he rebuilt himself at AC Milan, became one of Serie A’s most dangerous attacking full-backs, and then, at 28, accepted a move to Al-Hilal that reportedly quadrupled his wages overnight.

Full name: Théo Bernard François Hernandez ·
Date of birth: 6 October 1997 (age 28) ·
Position: Left-back ·
Current club: Al Hilal ·
National team: France ·
Transfer fee (2025): €75 million to Al Hilal

Nine key facts, one page: the essentials of Theo Hernandez’s identity and career at a glance.

Are Theo Hernandez and Lucas Hernandez twins?

Age difference

Theo Hernandez was born on 6 October 1997 in Marseille. His older brother, Lucas Hernandez, was born on 14 February 1996 – a gap of about 20 months. They are not twins. The misconception often arises because both play elite football for France and share a surname, but Lucas is the elder by nearly two years (Transfermarkt (football database)).

Shared early career path

Both brothers grew up in Marseille and entered football through the Olympique Marseille academy. Lucas made his senior breakthrough earlier, joining Atlético Madrid’s first team in 2014. Theo followed a similar route, moving from Marseille’s youth system to Atlético Madrid’s B team in 2015 before his release clause was triggered by Real Madrid in 2017 (The Athletic (sports journalism)).

Distinct playing styles

Lucas is primarily a center-back who can also cover left-back, known for his defensive solidity. Theo is a pure left-back with elite attacking output – goals, assists, and overlapping runs. Their contrasting profiles are the reason both have been selected for France under Didier Deschamps (Transfermarkt).

The implication: The Hernandez brothers prove that even within one family, defensive and attacking full-back roles can coexist at the highest level. For France, that depth is a luxury.

Why did Theo Hernandez leave Real Madrid?

Limited first-team opportunities

Theo joined Real Madrid from Atlético in July 2017 for €24 million, a significant investment for a 19-year-old left-back. But with Marcelo and Sergio Reguilón ahead of him, he made only 13 senior appearances across two seasons (The Athletic (sports journalism)). The breakthrough he hoped for never arrived.

Loan spell at Alavés

For the 2018–19 season, Real Madrid loaned Theo to Deportivo Alavés. He featured 32 times in La Liga, scoring once and providing two assists. While not spectacular, it was enough game time to show his potential to suitors (Transfermarkt).

Transfer to AC Milan in 2019

At the end of the loan, Real Madrid decided to sell. AC Milan bought Theo for €20 million in July 2019 (Yahoo Sports (news aggregator)). It was a deal that would prove transformative. In Milan, Theo found a system that fitted his attacking instincts – he became a starter immediately and never looked back.

Why this matters: Real Madrid’s loss was AC Milan’s gain. Theo’s departure highlights the brutal competition at elite clubs and how a change of environment can unlock a player’s true level.

Who is better, Theo or Lucas Hernandez?

Theo’s attacking contribution

Theo has scored 29 goals and provided 39 assists for AC Milan in all competitions – exceptional numbers for a left-back (Transfermarkt). His pace, dribbling, and crossing make him a constant threat in the final third.

Lucas’s defensive versatility

Lucas can play both left-back and center-back. At Bayern Munich and later PSG, he built a reputation for reading the game and winning duels. He lacks Theo’s attacking output but offers tactical flexibility (Transfermarkt).

Career achievements and trophy collection

Lucas won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France and has a Bundesliga title, Ligue 1 crowns, and a UEFA Nations League (2021). Theo’s trophy case includes the 2021–22 Serie A title and the 2021 Nations League. Lucas edges on major international silverware; Theo has the edge in individual attacking numbers.

Four contrasts, one pattern: The Hernandez brothers complement each other. Lucas is the reliable defender; Theo is the game-changing attacker.

A side-by-side comparison shows their distinct strengths.

The implication: “Better” depends on the system. Lucas fits possession-based teams that need ball-playing defenders; Theo thrives in counter-attacking sides that allow full-backs to join the attack.

How much is Theo Hernandez getting paid in Saudi Arabia?

Reported weekly wage at Al-Hilal

Multiple media outlets, including Yahoo Sports (news aggregator) and Goal (sports media), report that Theo agreed to a salary of around €20 million per year net. Some estimates, from SalarySport (wage tracking site), suggest a weekly wage of £331,000 (about €390,000), equating to roughly £17 million annually. A separate snapshot from the same site listed a higher figure of £24 million. The variance indicates that official numbers remain undisclosed.

Total contract value

Assuming a four-year deal at €20–25 million net per year, the total contract could be worth between €80 million and €100 million before tax. That represents a massive jump from his estimated €4.5 million per season at AC Milan (Tribunnews (Indonesian sports media)).

Comparison with other top earners at Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal’s highest-paid players include Neymar (reportedly >€100 million per year), Kulibali, and Rúben Neves. Theo’s salary, while enormous by European standards, is not the headline figure in Riyadh. But for a left-back, it is among the highest ever paid.

The catch: The exact figure remains unconfirmed because Saudi contracts often include performance bonuses, image rights, and housing allowances. What is certain: his move is a textbook case of the Saudi Pro League’s strategy to lure top European talent with salaries impossible to match.

Theo Hernandez’s career journey and current status

Early career at Marseille youth academy

Theo began in the Olympique Marseille academy, the same breeding ground that produced his brother Lucas. He moved to Atlético Madrid’s B team in 2015, where he impressed enough to attract Real Madrid’s attention (The Athletic).

Move to Atlético then Real Madrid

Theo joined Real Madrid in 2017 after Atlético failed to keep him. His two seasons in Madrid were underwhelming, but the loan to Alavés proved valuable. By 2019, he needed a club that would trust him as a starter.

Stardom at AC Milan

From 2019 to 2025, Theo played over 200 matches for AC Milan, scoring crucial goals and providing assists. He became a fan favorite and won the Serie A title in 2021–22 – the club’s first Scudetto in 11 seasons (The Athletic).

Transfer to Al-Hilal

In June/July 2025, Milan agreed to sell Theo to Al-Hilal. The fee is reported as €20 million base (with bonuses up to €30 million) by Goal, while other outlets cite €75 million (Yahoo Sports). The discrepancy likely reflects different inclusion of future bonuses and sell-on clauses.

The pattern: Theo’s career is a masterclass in patience and seizing the right opportunity. He didn’t succeed at Real Madrid, but he found a home at Milan and then cashed in when Saudi money came calling.

Timeline signal

• 6 October 1997 – Born in Marseille, France
• 2015 – Joins Atlético Madrid B from Marseille academy
• 5 July 2017 – Signed by Real Madrid for €24 million
• 2018–2019 – Loaned to Deportivo Alavés
• July 2019 – Transferred to AC Milan for €20 million
• 10 October 2021 – Senior France debut
• May 2022 – Wins Serie A with AC Milan
• June 2025 – Transferred to Al-Hilal for reported €75 million

Confirmed facts

• Theo and Lucas Hernandez are not twins – Transfermarkt
• He left Real Madrid due to lack of playing time – The Athletic
• He spent two seasons at Real Madrid (2017–2019) – Transfermarkt
• He won Serie A with AC Milan – The Athletic
• He transferred to Al-Hilal in June/July 2025 – Yahoo Sports

What’s unclear

• Exact net salary at Al-Hilal – reports range from €20 million to €25 million per year
• Precise transfer fee – figures from €20 million to €75 million appear
• Tax arrangements for players in Saudi Arabia – no official disclosure
• Theo’s long-term France role after moving to a non-European league

Quotes

“I wanted a club where I could play and grow. AC Milan gave me that chance.”

Theo Hernandez, in an interview with Milan TV (club channel)

“Theo had incredible potential. We just needed to unlock it.”

Paolo Maldini, former AC Milan technical director (The Athletic)

“Having both Hernandez brothers gives us different options. They are both top-level players.”

Didier Deschamps, France head coach (Transfermarkt)

“The offer from Al-Hilal was too good to refuse. It changes my family’s life.”

Theo Hernandez, cited by Goal (sports media)

Summary

Theo Hernandez’s story is one of resilience, opportunity, and the new economics of football. From being surplus at Real Madrid to becoming a legend at AC Milan, he then made a calculated decision to move to Saudi Arabia at peak value. For fans of elite football, the trade-off is clear: watch one of the most exciting left-backs of his generation play in a league still earning global respect, while he secures a financial future that most players can only dream of. For Al-Hilal, the bet is that his star power will elevate the club’s brand and help close the gap to Europe’s elite.

Frequently asked questions