Al-Ittihad Targets Ritsu Doan as Diaby Successor

Al-Ittihad are on the verge of landing one of their headline targets of the window, with Japan international Ritsu Doan set to step into the space left by Moussa Diaby.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah club have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over the transfer of the versatile attacker, with only a few contractual details left before the move becomes official. The deal is described as done between the clubs, with both sides now waiting on final formalities.

Doan’s expected arrival comes in direct response to the departure of France’s Moussa Diaby, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen. Losing one of their most prominent attacking names forced “the Dean” back into the market in search of a forward who could not just plug a gap, but broaden their options in the final third.

They believe they have found that profile in Doan. Comfortable across several attacking positions and hardened by his years in European football, the Japanese international offers flexibility between the lines and on the flanks, exactly the kind of tool a rebuilding side craves.

This move forms part of a wider Al-Ittihad overhaul after a turbulent summer that has seen several big names from the previous project move on. The board’s intention is clear: hand the coach a refreshed, adaptable squad capable of executing a new vision and giving the team a different identity in the Roshn League.

For now, the wait is administrative rather than sporting. With agreement in place between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt, the club are counting down to the official announcement that will confirm Doan as the latest piece in their reconstruction.

If the deal is completed as expected, Ritsu Doan will effectively succeed Diaby in the Al-Ittihad squad, tasked with injecting fresh attacking spark into a side eager to turn the page. The fans of “the Dean” now watch the clock, waiting for the moment the Japanese attacker is unveiled as a central figure in the club’s new project.