Al-Ahli Signs Abdullah Radif Amid Coaching Turmoil

Al-Ahli have answered a week of turbulence with a sharp move in the market, sealing a deal for Saudi striker Abdullah Radif just as it seemed Al-Diriyah might hijack the transfer.

The mood around the Jeddah club has been heavy since German coach Matthias Jaissle handed in his resignation on Thursday to take over at Newcastle United next season, succeeding Eddie Howe. While fans wrestle with the loss of the architect of their recent rise, the board has pushed ahead with squad building – and Radif is the latest piece.

Al-Ahli win the race

Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday that Al-Ahli have completed an agreement with Radif, the former Al-Hilal forward, on a free transfer after his contract with the Riyadh giants expired. The 23-year-old will sign a four-year deal running through to 2030.

The move looked straightforward at first. Radif had already given the green light to join Al-Ahli. Then the script flipped.

Al-Diriyah, newly promoted to the Roshn League and eager to make a statement, dived into the negotiations and came close to snatching the player from under Al-Ahli’s nose. For a brief spell, the Jeddah club risked losing a striker they had lined up as part of their summer rebuild.

The response was decisive. Al-Ahli pushed back, saw off Al-Diriyah’s late intervention and locked down the agreement. Only final administrative procedures and the player’s signature remain before an official announcement, expected within hours.

From Al-Hilal prospect to free agent

Radif’s departure from Al-Hilal had already been confirmed on 7 July, drawing a line under a five-year stint with the first team. During that period, the Riyadh club repeatedly sent him out on loan in search of minutes and maturity, with spells at Al-Taawoun, Al-Shabab, Al-Ettifaq and most recently Al-Feiha.

His last outing came in the second half of last season with Al-Feiha, where he featured in eight matches, registering two assists but no goals. The numbers are modest, but Al-Ahli are clearly betting on his physical profile, domestic experience and room for growth rather than his recent statistics.

The striker’s future could easily have taken a different path. Radif had previously agreed to join Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract worth 27 million riyals, 9 million per season. The deal collapsed when Al-Ittihad withdrew, unable to provide the financial liquidity required to close the transfer. That retreat reopened the market and eventually steered him towards Jeddah’s green half.

Role in a crowded attack

At Al-Ahli, Radif is expected to start as the third-choice centre-forward. He will compete with Brazilian Ricardo Matias for minutes behind the leading duo of England international Ivan Toney and Saudi striker Firas Al-Buraikan.

It is a demanding role: limited guaranteed playing time, but constant pressure to be ready when called. For a 23-year-old who has bounced through loans, it could be the stability he has been waiting for – or another test of patience.

This signing also underlines the scale of Al-Ahli’s summer reshuffle. Radif becomes their sixth arrival of the window, following Gambian midfielder Aboubakar Sidi Kinte, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao, Armenian playmaker Eduard Spertsyan and Saudi duo Meshaal Al-Mutairi and Nayef Masoud.

A coach has walked out for the Premier League, leaving a sizeable void on the touchline. Yet the squad beneath that vacancy keeps taking shape. With Radif now on board and competition for attacking places fierce, the next big question at Al-Ahli is clear: who will be trusted to knit all these pieces into a title-chasing side?