Al-Ittihad Nears Ritsu Doan Transfer as Diaby Replacement
Al-Ittihad are on the brink of securing one of their headline targets of the current transfer window, moving quickly to plug a major gap in their attack.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah giants have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of Japan international Ritsu Doan. Only a few contractual details remain before the deal is made official, with both clubs understood to be aligned on the main terms.
The move is designed to soften the blow of Moussa Diaby’s departure. The French forward left Al-Ittihad for Bayer Leverkusen this summer, ripping a key piece out of the club’s frontline and forcing the hierarchy back into the market for a versatile attacker who can both create and finish.
Doan fits that brief.
Capable of operating across several attacking positions, the Japanese star brings with him a solid body of European experience, something Al-Ittihad have prioritised as they reshape the squad. His profile offers flexibility in the final third and the kind of tactical intelligence that can unlock tight games in the Roshn League.
The pressure to rebuild after a turbulent summer has pushed Al-Ittihad into an aggressive recruitment drive. A number of big names from the previous project have moved on, and the club’s management are intent on handing the coach a fresher, more adaptable set of tools to implement a new identity on the pitch.
Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is effectively complete, with both sides now waiting only on a handful of formalities before Doan is officially unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player. Inside the club, the expectation is that confirmation is now a matter of timing rather than negotiation.
For “the Dean”, Doan’s arrival would mark a direct succession to Diaby’s role in the squad and could deliver a significant attacking boost at a critical moment in their rebuild.
The stands in Jeddah now wait for the final word – and for the sight of a Japanese playmaker stepping into the heart of Al-Ittihad’s new project.
