Al-Ittihad Set to Sign Ritsu Doan as Diaby Replacement
Al-Ittihad’s rebuild is moving fast. The Jeddah giants are on the brink of sealing a deal for Japan international Ritsu Doan, a move designed to plug one of the biggest gaps in their squad.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of the versatile attacker. Only the final contractual details remain before the signing becomes official, with both clubs understood to be aligned on the main terms of the move.
Doan’s expected arrival comes in direct response to the departure of French forward Moussa Diaby, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen. Losing one of their standout attacking names forced “the Dean” back into the market in search of a forward who can both replace Diaby’s output and expand the team’s options in the final third.
Doan fits that brief. Comfortable across several attacking roles, the Japanese international offers flexibility between the lines and out wide, as well as a wealth of experience from his years in European football. For an Al-Ittihad side undergoing a major reset, he brings both pedigree and adaptability at a moment when the club is shifting away from many of the figures who shaped the previous project.
Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is already in place, with the parties now working through a small set of formalities before the move is rubber-stamped. The expectation around the club is that an announcement is close.
Doan’s signing forms part of a broader recruitment drive after a turbulent summer. Club management are intent on handing the coach a refreshed, flexible squad capable of executing his ideas and giving “the Dean” a sharper, more modern identity in the Roshn League.
If all goes as planned, Ritsu Doan will step straight into the space left by Diaby in the Al-Ittihad squad, with the potential to deliver a significant attacking boost. For now, the fans wait — not to see if he comes, but when he walks through the door to join the new project in Jeddah.
