Al Ahli Saudi confirm Khaled Al-Ghamdi exit as club presidency left vacant amid ownership uncertainty

Al Ahli Saudi have been left without a club president after the board of the Al Ahli company formally accepted the resignation of chairman Khaled Al-Ghamdi.

Al-Ghamdi had already announced his intention to step down after three years in charge, and the club has now ratified his departure in an official statement published on its website.

In that announcement, Al Ahli confirmed the acceptance of his resignation as chairman of the board, thanking him for his services and wishing him success in the next stage of his career.

The club’s ownership company said the achievements during his tenure were the product of “integrated institutional work”, praising the efforts he had made throughout his presidency and emphasising that his role in delivering “many gains” would remain part of Al Ahli’s ongoing story.

Three-year spell marked by continental and domestic silverware

Al-Ghamdi took over the presidency in 2023 and leaves after three seasons in the role.

During that time Al Ahli lifted the AFC Champions League Elite title in back-to-back campaigns, securing the continental crown in consecutive seasons.

He also oversaw the club’s success in the Saudi Super Cup, a trophy Al Ahli had not won for nine years before their triumph under his leadership.

The statement framed those honours as the headline achievements of his period in charge, highlighting them as evidence of the club’s progress on and off the pitch during his spell as president.

No successor named as PIF considers club sale

Al Ahli have not yet announced a replacement and did not indicate a timescale for appointing a new president.

Reports in Saudi Arabia suggest there is currently no intention to select a successor, against the backdrop of the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) plans to offer Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad for sale, following a similar approach taken with Al Hilal.

Those reports indicate that the uncertainty around the club’s future ownership is influencing the decision not to move quickly to fill the presidency.

Al-Ghamdi set to run for Saudi FA presidency

Al-Ghamdi is now expected to stand for the presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

He will seek to succeed Yasser Al-Misehal, who resigned from his position after seven years in office.

Al-Misehal’s departure came in the wake of the Saudi national team’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated at the group stage.

Al-Ghamdi’s candidacy for the federation role would mark a shift from club leadership to national administration, following a spell at Al Ahli that the club has publicly described as leaving a lasting legacy.