Spotted by scouts, Alexander and his younger brother Vyacheslav were signed in 2000 by German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for approximately €150,000.

[11] In 2002–03, Stuttgart finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga and enjoyed a UEFA Champions League victory over Manchester United and Hleb had become established as the team's playmaker.

After team manager Felix Magath left to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2004, however, Stuttgart were not as successful under new coach Matthias Sammer, having finished the 2004–05 season in fifth place.

[12] In June 2005, Hleb joined English side Arsenal for a sum which had the potential to reach €15 million, on a four-year contract.

When strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo recovered from injuries Arsène Wenger reverted to a 4–4–2 formation and Hleb returned to playing on the wing.

His season was cut short after he was banned for three games by the FA after he was charged with violent conduct in an incident with Graeme Murty of Reading during their 2–0 win.

[19] In March 2009, after featuring irregularly for the team – starting only five games in La Liga – Hleb admitted that he would readily accept an offer from Bayern Munich, if such an opportunity arose in the summer.

On 31 August 2010, Hleb returned to England by signing a season-long loan deal with Premier League club Birmingham City.

[23] An ankle injury sustained on international duty delayed his debut until 18 September, when he played 83 minutes in a 3–1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

[26] Injury disrupted his season, forcing him to miss Birmingham City's victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final.

Towards the end of the season, he ruled out a return to Birmingham once his loan expired, suggesting that their style of football was not suited to him, although he wanted to remain in the Premier League, ideally at Arsenal.

[31] After Hleb's contract with Barcelona was cancelled by mutual consent during the January 2012 transfer window,[32] he signed for Russian Premier League club Krylia Sovetov Samara until the end of the season.

[33] On 26 July 2012, Hleb signed a contract with BATE Borisov and won the 2012 Belarusian Premier League in his return season.

[36] Further spells at FK BATE Borisov, Krylia Sovetov Samara and Isloch Minsk Raion followed at the end of his club career.

[38] In November 2006, former Belarusian captain Sergei Gurenko strongly criticised Hleb for not working hard in national team settings.