Diriyah’s ambitious move for Al Ittihad’s Ahmed Al-Ghamdi hits contract stand-off

Newly promoted Diriyah have made a formal approach to sign Al Ittihad midfielder Ahmed Al-Ghamdi this summer, but the 24-year-old has pushed back against leaving the Jeddah club under the current terms.

According to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Diriyah, who will compete in the Saudi Pro League (Roshn Saudi League) next season, submitted an official offer to Al Ittihad for Al-Ghamdi during the ongoing transfer window.

However, the player is reported to be unwilling to depart Al Ittihad at this stage of his career, indicating a clear preference to continue with the club rather than embark on a new challenge.

Complex conditions for potential move

While Al-Ghamdi has not completely ruled out a move to Diriyah, he is said to have set out conditions described as complicated for any agreement to go ahead.

The report states that Al-Ghamdi would only consider joining Diriyah if he receives a salary significantly higher than his current wages at Al Ittihad, coupled with a long-term contract.

Those demands place a substantial obstacle in front of Diriyah’s efforts to secure his signature, with the club now needing to decide whether to meet the financial and contractual expectations set by the player.

Contract running down at Al Ittihad

Al-Ghamdi’s current deal with Al Ittihad is due to expire at the end of next season.

That means he would be free to leave on a free transfer in the following summer window if an extension is not agreed, a situation that could put pressure on Al Ittihad to either renew his contract or consider selling him now to avoid losing him for nothing.

So far, there has been no indication from the report that a new contract with Al Ittihad is close, leaving his medium-term future unresolved despite his stated wish to stay.

Key role under Sergio Conceicao

Al-Ghamdi returned to Al Ittihad last summer after completing a loan spell at Neom, and he went on to impress under Portuguese head coach Sergio Conceicao.

During the most recent campaign, the Saudi midfielder made 34 appearances in all competitions for Al Ittihad, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

His performances have underlined his value to the squad, with Conceicao making regular use of his versatility across the attacking midfield line.

Versatile attacking option

Al-Ghamdi is capable of operating on both the left and right wings as well as in the central playmaker role.

That tactical flexibility is one of the main reasons Diriyah have identified him as a key target as they prepare for life in the Roshn Saudi League following promotion.

For now, though, any transfer appears to hinge on whether Diriyah are prepared to meet Al-Ghamdi’s increased salary demands and offer the lengthy contract he is seeking, or whether Al Ittihad move to secure his future beyond the end of next season.