Al-Ittihad Signs Ritsu Doan as Diaby Replacement

Al-Ittihad have moved quickly to plug one of the biggest gaps in their squad, closing on a deal for Japan international Ritsu Doan as the club reshapes its attack for the new Roshn League season.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of the versatile forward. Only minor contractual details remain before the move becomes official, with both clubs understood to be aligned on the main terms of the deal.

The timing is no coincidence. Doan is being lined up to step into the space left by Moussa Diaby, who has departed for Bayer Leverkusen. Diaby’s exit stripped “the Dean” of one of its most prominent attacking weapons and forced the Jeddah giants back into the market for a player who can threaten defences and offer variety in the final third.

Doan fits that brief. Comfortable across several attacking roles, the Japanese star brings a blend of creativity, work rate and end-product, honed over years on European pitches. His experience in Germany and elsewhere in Europe gives Al-Ittihad a ready-made option as they attempt to accelerate a squad rebuild rather than start from scratch.

The deal, Al-Riyadiah reports, is effectively done between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt. With the clubs in agreement, the move now rests on a handful of formalities before the player can be unveiled in Jeddah. Inside the club, the feeling is that it is a matter of when, not if.

Doan’s imminent arrival is part of a broader recruitment drive after a summer of upheaval at Al-Ittihad. The hierarchy are intent on handing the coach a refreshed, flexible group capable of executing his ideas and shifting the team towards a new identity, away from the core that defined the previous project.

If the final details fall into place as expected, Doan will effectively succeed Diaby in the squad, tasked with injecting fresh energy and invention into Al-Ittihad’s frontline. For now, the fans wait – for the announcement, for the first photos in yellow and black, and for a clearer picture of what this new-look “Dean” will actually become.