Al-Ahli Signs Abdullah Radif After Jaissle Departure
Al-Ahli may be bracing for the loss of Matthias Jaissle, but they are wasting no time reshaping the attack he leaves behind.
While fans digest the news that the German coach has resigned to take over at Newcastle United next season, the Saudi club have closed a deal for striker Abdullah Radif, edging out late, aggressive competition from Al-Diriyah.
A tug-of-war for a free agent
Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday that Al-Ahli have wrapped up the signing of Radif, the former Al-Hilal forward, on a free transfer. His contract with Al-Hilal expired this summer, clearing the way for a four-year deal that will keep him in Jeddah until 2030.
The move looked straightforward at first. The 23-year-old had already given the green light to join Al-Ahli, a logical step after Al-Hilal confirmed on 7 July that he was leaving for good, five years after his promotion to the first team.
Then the story twisted.
Al-Diriyah, newly promoted to the Roshn League and eager to make a statement in the top flight, suddenly stepped in and pushed hard to hijack the deal. For a brief spell, Radif’s future hung in the balance as the newcomers came close to turning his head.
Al-Ahli held their nerve. They saw off the late intervention and moved quickly to lock the player down. Only administrative formalities and the final signature remain before the club can announce the transfer officially.
From loans and a collapsed mega deal to a new start
Radif’s path to this point has been anything but smooth. Elevated to Al-Hilal’s first team five years ago, he struggled to establish himself amid fierce competition and spent much of his time on loan. Spells at Al-Taawoun, Al-Shabab, Al-Ettifaq and Al-Feiha offered minutes, but not a permanent home.
There was almost a very different chapter.
Radif had previously agreed terms with Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract reportedly worth 27 million riyals, 9 million per season. It would have been a major move and a significant financial step up. Instead, the deal collapsed when Al-Ittihad withdrew, unable to secure the liquidity needed to complete the transfer.
So he arrives at Al-Ahli with something to prove.
His most recent stint, at Al-Feiha in the second half of last season, underlined both his promise and his need for continuity. He featured in only eight matches, failed to score, but did provide two assists. For a 23-year-old striker still finding his feet, it was a reminder that he needs a stable platform and real trust to grow into the player many in Saudi football believe he can become.
Slotting into a crowded attack
That platform may now be Al-Ahli, though it will not come gift-wrapped. Radif is expected to start as the club’s third-choice striker, behind England international Ivan Toney and Saudi forward Firas Al-Buraikan, and in direct competition with Brazilian Ricardo Matias.
It is a demanding environment. But it is also the kind of frontline that can sharpen a young forward quickly. Training every day alongside that calibre of attacking talent offers a different kind of education to another short-term loan.
Radif becomes Al-Ahli’s sixth signing of the summer window, underlining a squad being rebuilt with intent. He follows Gambian Aboubakar Sidi Kinte, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao, Armenian playmaker Eduard Spertsyan, and Saudi duo Meshaal Al-Mutairi and Nayef Masoud.
Jaissle may be on his way to the Premier League, but Al-Ahli’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing. The question now is simple: in a dressing room full of big names and bigger expectations, can Abdullah Radif finally turn potential into production?
