Al-Ittihad Nears Deal for 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’s attacking rebuild gathers pace.

According to Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah giants have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of the versatile forward. Only a few contractual details are left before the move becomes official, with all sides expecting confirmation soon.

The timing is no coincidence. Doan’s imminent arrival is designed to soften the blow of losing France’s Moussa Diaby, who has departed for Bayer Leverkusen. His exit stripped “the Dean” of a key attacking reference point and forced the club back into the market for a player who can both replace and expand on that influence in the final third.

Doan ticks those boxes. Comfortable across several attacking roles, the Japanese star offers flexibility between the lines and out wide, and he brings with him a solid bank of European experience from his time in Germany and elsewhere on the continent. For an Al-Ittihad side in transition, that profile fits neatly into a squad being reshaped on the fly.

Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is already complete, with the clubs now working through the final formalities before Doan is unveiled in the Roshn League. Inside the corridors at Jeddah, the feeling is that it is now a question of when, not if.

The move forms part of a broader recruitment drive after a turbulent summer that has seen several big names leave and a new project take shape. Club management are intent on giving the coach a fresher, more adaptable set of tools, with an attack capable of playing at higher tempo and offering different angles of threat.

If all goes through as expected, Ritsu Doan will effectively inherit Diaby’s place in the Al-Ittihad squad and shoulder a significant share of the creative burden. The supporters know what that means. They are already waiting for the official announcement – and for the first glimpse of how the Japanese international might redefine “the Dean’s” attacking edge this season.