Al-Ittihad Takeover Process Could Extend to 2027
Al-Ittihad have watched their old rivals Al-Hilal stride into a new financial era. For the Jeddah giants, the same door is still half-closed and guarded by paperwork.
According to Saudi newspaper "Okaz", the long-discussed takeover of Al-Ittihad remains stuck in the evaluation and review phase, with officials yet to decide who will step in as the club’s new investor. The process is active, not stalled, but it is slow – and it could stay that way for a long time.
How long? Potentially until the end of 2027.
That is the time frame being floated as assessors dig through the details of every bid, weighing not just headline numbers but the real financial strength and administrative capacity of the prospective owners. This is not a beauty contest; it is a stress test.
"Okaz" report that negotiations with the relevant parties are still ongoing, while the review of the submitted files has moved into a more advanced stage. The spotlight is now on the hard data: financial statements, funding plans, governance structures, and the ability to sustain the club in both the near and medium term.
Each investor’s funding sources and financial commitments are being examined to see whether they can genuinely shoulder the demands of owning and running Al-Ittihad, rather than simply buying into the badge. Short-term injections are not enough. Officials want proof of staying power.
Regulators are also dissecting the files of both local and foreign investors under strict conditions set by the current owning entity. One rule stands above the rest: any ownership structure must include a local partner. That requirement shapes every proposal and narrows the field.
For local investors, the path is slightly more straightforward. They are allowed to apply to own the club individually and can acquire up to 70% of Al-Ittihad’s shares. Even then, the bar is high. They must demonstrate not only deep pockets but also the administrative competence to run one of Saudi Arabia’s most demanding institutions.
The contrast with Al-Hilal is sharp. Last April, Al-Hilal became the standard-bearer for this new era among the four major clubs, stepping out from under the direct umbrella of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Seventy percent of the Riyadh club’s shares moved to Kingdom Holding Company, owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, in a landmark deal that signaled a fresh phase of private involvement at the top of the Saudi game.
Al-Ittihad had hoped to follow that path swiftly. Instead, they are locked into a long audition, their future ownership model still being scored, graded, and cross-checked.
The rivalry with Al-Hilal has always been fierce on the pitch. Now it has spilled into the boardroom. One giant has already crossed the threshold. The other is still waiting for the final stamp that will decide who really drives the next chapter of Al-Ittihad’s story.
