Al Shabab make first summer signing as former Al Ittihad midfielder Awad Al Nashri joins on free transfer

Al Shabab have completed their first signing of the current summer transfer window by bringing in former Al Ittihad midfielder Awad Al Nashri on a free transfer.

The Riyadh club confirmed on their official X account that the 24-year-old Saudi international has signed after the expiry of his contract with Al Ittihad, where he spent six years.

Al Shabab stated that Al Nashri has agreed a deal running for two seasons, with the contract set to end in 2028 and including an option to extend for a further year.

The move marks the first officially announced addition to Al Shabab’s squad this summer and comes under the guidance of new German head coach Thomas Letsch, who has taken over from Algerian coach Noureddine Ben Zekri.

Fourth Al Ittihad departure of the summer

Al Nashri leaves Al Ittihad as the fourth confirmed exit from the Jeddah club in the current window.

He follows Colombia striker Ricardo Carbalho, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho and Saudi winger Abdulaziz Al Bishi in departing the team known as “the Tigers”.

Al Nashri’s contract with Al Ittihad expired at the end of last season and was not renewed, allowing him to join Al Shabab without a transfer fee.

The midfielder had been promoted to Al Ittihad’s first team in 2020 and remained part of the senior squad across six seasons before ending his spell with the club this summer.

Hunt for regular football and national team return

Al Nashri is understood to be targeting more consistent game time at Al Shabab in an effort to revive his prospects with the Saudi Arabia national team.

The midfielder has previously represented his country at senior level, featuring for Saudi Arabia during the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup.

Despite spending six seasons in the Al Ittihad first team set-up, Al Nashri’s contributions in the final third were limited.

He made 80 appearances for the Jeddah side in all competitions during that period but did not score or provide an assist.

Al Shabab will now look to integrate Al Nashri into Letsch’s plans as the club reshape their squad for the new campaign, with the midfielder aiming to use the move as a platform to re-establish himself domestically and internationally.