Saudi giants Hilal signed French club Sochaux midfielder Jawad Zairi on loan until the end of the season for $700,000, Saudi daily Al-Watan reported on Friday.

Hilal succeeded in getting the player to put pen to paper after extensive negotiations with him and his club, the paper noted.

The 23-year-old midfielder will wont be able to officially join his new teammates till after he finishes playing with Morocco in their African Cup of Nations (ACN) campaign in Egypt.

Hilal come in second place in the Saudi league standings with a tally of 27 points, one point behind leaders Shabab club, with the end of the round-12 matches.