Al-Ittihad Signs Ritsu Doan as Diaby Replacement
Al-Ittihad’s response to a turbulent summer is starting to take shape, and it carries a distinctly Japanese flavour.
According to Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah giants have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of Ritsu Doan, with only minor contractual details left before the move becomes official. The deal is designed to plug one of the biggest gaps in the squad after the departure of Moussa Diaby.
The search for Diaby’s successor has defined Al-Ittihad’s window. When the Frenchman left for Bayer Leverkusen, he took with him pace, penetration and a constant threat between the lines. The club could not afford to leave that hole untouched, not in a Roshn League growing more unforgiving by the season.
So they turned to Doan.
The Japan international offers what modern coaches crave: versatility across the frontline and a high level of tactical discipline shaped by his years in Europe. Comfortable on either wing or drifting inside, he can operate as a creator, a presser, or a direct goal threat. For a team trying to reinvent its attacking identity, that profile is gold.
Inside the club, this move is seen as part of a broader reset. Al-Ittihad have already moved on from several of the names that defined their previous project, and the recruitment drive has been built around giving the coach a more flexible, dynamic squad. Doan fits that brief. He brings European experience, a sharp football education, and the ability to adapt quickly to new demands.
The agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt is described as done. Both clubs are now simply working through the last formalities before the Japanese attacker is unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player. Barring late surprises, it is a matter of timing, not negotiation.
For the fans, the anticipation is growing. They watched Diaby leave and wondered where the spark would come from next. Now they are waiting for Doan to step off a plane in Jeddah and into a dressing room being rebuilt in real time.
If the move is confirmed as expected, Ritsu Doan will walk into Al-Ittihad not just as another signing, but as the man asked to pick up Diaby’s mantle and drive a new attacking era in the Roshn League.
