Al-Ittihad Set to Complete Ritsu Doan Transfer

Al-Ittihad are not lingering over their rebuild. The Jeddah giants have moved decisively in the market and are now on the brink of securing one of their main summer targets: Japan international Ritsu Doan.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of the versatile attacker. The framework of the deal is in place; what remains are the final contractual details before the move becomes official and Doan swaps the Bundesliga for the Roshn League.

This is not a luxury signing. It is a direct response to a major departure.

Moussa Diaby’s exit to Bayer Leverkusen left a glaring hole in Al-Ittihad’s attacking structure, stripping “the Dean” of one of their standout forwards and a key reference in the final third. The club’s hierarchy moved quickly, scouring Europe for a player who could not only replicate Diaby’s influence, but also broaden the team’s attacking options.

They settled on Doan.

Comfortable across several roles behind the striker and out wide, the Japanese international brings a mix of creativity, work rate, and tactical intelligence honed on European pitches. That profile fits neatly with Al-Ittihad’s attempt to redraw the blueprint of a squad that has already seen several of the previous era’s big names moved on.

The plan is clear: refresh the core, reshape the identity.

Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is already done, with both clubs simply waiting on the last formalities before the player can be unveiled in Jeddah. Inside the club, the expectation is that the announcement is now a question of timing, not negotiation.

Doan’s impending arrival forms part of a wider recruitment drive after a turbulent summer. The board want to arm the coach with a group that can fully execute his ideas, inject more dynamism into the attack, and give “the Dean” a sharper, more modern look in the Roshn League.

If all goes through as planned, Ritsu Doan will effectively step into the space Diaby left behind, tasked with lifting Al-Ittihad’s attacking output and becoming a pillar of this new project.

The deal is not yet on the club’s official channels. But in Jeddah, fans are already looking toward the moment the Japanese forward walks through the doors and the next phase of Al-Ittihad’s rebuild truly begins.