Al-Ittihad Signs Fares Abdi to Strengthen Left Flank

Al-Ittihad have moved decisively in the market, sealing the signing of left-back Fares Abdi from Neom after wrapping up the final financial and contractual details in recent hours.

The club announced the deal across their official channels, confirming a move that head coach Jens Wissing had driven hard behind the scenes. He identified Abdi as the man to shore up the left side of defence, stepping into the role left vacant by the late Mario Metaj and giving the Tigers a fresh option in a key area of the pitch.

This was not a default choice. Abdi emerged from a shortlist of contenders, winning the internal battle to claim the starting berth and underlining how highly he is rated within the club’s recruitment set-up. His arrival slots into a broader summer rebuild as Al-Ittihad quietly assemble a squad built to withstand the demands of the new season.

Abdi’s path to Jeddah has been anything but conventional. Born in California, the 27-year-old learned the game on American fields before switching to the Saudi scene with Al-Wehda in 2020. From there he built his reputation with spells at Al-Qadsiah and Al-Fayha, before joining Neom last summer.

At Neom he delivered a full season’s worth of work: 34 appearances, 3 assists, and a consistent presence up and down the flank. That blend of reliability and attacking contribution is exactly what Wissing wants on the left side.

Al-Ittihad now have their man. The question is simple: how quickly can Abdi turn a hard-earned move into a locked-down starting spot?