Al-Ittihad Set to Sign Ritsu Doan as Diaby Replacement

Al-Ittihad are on the verge of landing one of their headline targets of the window, moving quickly to plug the gap left by one of their biggest names.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah giants have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for Japan international Ritsu Doan. Only minor contractual details are believed to be outstanding before the move becomes official, with the winger now edging towards a new adventure in the Roshn League after his spell in Europe.

Doan’s arrival is designed to soften the blow of Moussa Diaby’s departure to Bayer Leverkusen. Losing the Frenchman stripped “the Dean” of a key attacking outlet, and the club hierarchy responded by zeroing in on a forward who can both replace and expand on that threat in the final third.

They believe Doan fits that brief. Comfortable across several attacking roles, the Japanese star brings versatility and significant European experience, qualities Al-Ittihad see as vital as they reshape a squad that has already waved goodbye to several pillars of the previous project.

Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is already in place, with both clubs simply working through the last formalities before Doan is unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player. From their side, the deal is viewed as done; the announcement now feels like a matter of timing rather than negotiation.

Doan’s expected signing slots into a broader recruitment drive after a turbulent summer in Jeddah. The club’s management are intent on handing their coach a refreshed set of options, players capable of executing his ideas and giving “the Dean” a sharper, more modern identity in the new season.

If all goes through as planned, Ritsu Doan will effectively succeed Diaby in the Al-Ittihad squad and could deliver a major injection of creativity and cutting edge. For now, the fans wait — for the official statement, for the first pictures in yellow and black, and for the Japanese international to step into the heart of the club’s new project.