Sports

Uncertainty Hinders Al-Ittihad Club Privatization

Al-Madinah - Jeddah

Publication date: July 23, 2026 00:51 KSA

Giant investment entities

The file of Al-Ittihad club privatization is shrouded in a great deal of uncertainty despite relative progress in negotiations, as cases of talks stalling with investors at advanced stages recur, without reaching the signing of final contracts, leaving the fate of the historic club suspended between waiting and hope for financial rescue.

Al-Ittihad, with its long history, grand stadium, and large fanbase, represents a strong attraction for local and international investors. However, the biggest puzzle remains the failure to complete procedures to the final signing stage, despite signing confidentiality agreements and reviewing financial and administrative files in earlier stages.

This pattern repeated with all investors who expressed a desire to acquire stakes in the club, including prominent Al-Ittihad supporters, such as the prominent businessman and known Al-Ittihad supporter Abdullah Saleh Kamel, but the negotiations were not completed. Al-Ittihad supporters are counting heavily on completing the privatization process to emerge from the financial crises pressuring the club, which prevent strengthening the team with quality deals. This comes within the framework of the Saudi clubs privatization project, which witnessed record investment interest, with interest requests exceeding 80 requests across more than 20 clubs, with other clubs recently offered. On the level of strengthening the team in the summer transfer window, Moroccan press reports denied the transfer of Al-Ittihad professional Youssef En-Nesyri to MAS Fez. On the other hand, Al-Ittihad club management entered into serious negotiations to contract with Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who plays for Turkish club Fenerbahçe, to fill the gap in the defensive midfield position after Kante's departure and the potential transfer of Fabinho, who entered free agency without the Al-Ittihad management renewing his contract, indicating technical dissatisfaction with his performance. Amrabat is 29 years old, possesses physical strength, build-up play from the back, ball control, and tackling, and forms a shield in front of the defense. He has previously represented several European teams: Fiorentina, Manchester United, Hellas Verona, and Club Brugge. Al-Ittihad fans expressed satisfaction with the result of the team's first friendly match in its camp in Marbella, Spain, which it won against Orlando Pirates, even though it was Al-Ittihad's first under the new technical staff led by German Jens Fissingen.

Al-Ittihad negotiations investment clubs En-Nesyri Amrabat Fissingen privatization