Al-Ittihad to Sign Ritsu Doan as Diaby Replacement
Al-Ittihad are on the brink of securing one of their headline targets of the current transfer window, with Japan international Ritsu Doan set to step into the space left by Moussa Diaby.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah, the Jeddah giants have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of Doan. The deal is in place, with only a few contractual details still being ironed out before an official announcement.
The move comes in direct response to the departure of French attacker Moussa Diaby, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen. His exit forced Al-Ittihad back into the market in search of a forward capable of operating across the front line and adding variety in the final third.
Doan fits that brief. The Japanese star can play in multiple attacking roles and arrives with solid European experience, having built his reputation on the continent before this Saudi switch. For Al-Ittihad, he represents both a replacement and an upgrade in terms of flexibility and tactical options.
The pressure to reshape the squad has been intense after a summer of upheaval at the club. Management are intent on handing the coach a fresher, more adaptable group, one that can execute a new vision and move away from the core of players who defined the previous era.
Al-Riyadiah reports that the agreement between Al-Ittihad and Eintracht Frankfurt is already complete, with both clubs simply waiting on final formalities. Once those are settled, Doan will officially become an Al-Ittihad player, with the announcement expected soon.
Doan’s expected arrival is part of a wider recruitment drive aimed at giving “the Dean” a sharper attacking edge and a different identity in the Roshn League this season. If all goes as planned, the Japanese international will effectively succeed Diaby in the squad, offering fresh solutions in the final third.
Now, Al-Ittihad supporters wait for the final confirmation—and for the first glimpse of how Ritsu Doan will reshape their club’s new project.
