Al-Ahli win race for Abdullah Radif as Al-Diriyah challenge falls short

Al-Ahli have completed an agreement to sign Saudi forward Abdullah Radif from Al-Hilal, beating newly promoted Al-Diriyah to the 23-year-old’s signature as uncertainty continues to surround the Jeddah club following Matthias Jaissle’s departure.

Radif will join Al-Ahli as a free agent after his contract with Al-Hilal expired. According to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the striker has agreed a four-year contract running until 2030 and is expected to become the latest addition to Al-Ahli’s summer recruitment programme.

The deal is expected to be formally announced in the coming hours, once the remaining administrative procedures have been completed and the player has signed the final documents.

Radif had previously reached an agreement to move to Al-Ahli, but Al-Diriyah made a late intervention and came close to taking the transfer away from them. Al-Ahli, known as “Al-Raqi”, ultimately overcame that challenge to secure the forward.

The move comes during a difficult period for Al-Ahli supporters. Reports said on Thursday that Jaissle had submitted his resignation as manager, with the German coach understood to be in line to take charge of Newcastle United next season, succeeding Eddie Howe.

Radif’s departure from Al-Hilal was confirmed by the club on 7 July. He left after five years connected with the first team, having spent periods on loan at Al-Taawoun, Al-Shabab, Al-Ettifaq and Al-Fayha.

The striker had also previously agreed to join Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract worth 27 million Saudi riyals. The proposed deal would have paid him nine million riyals per season, but Al-Ittihad withdrew after being unable to provide the financial resources required to complete the transfer.

At Al-Ahli, Radif is expected to challenge Brazilian forward Ricardo Matias for a place as the club’s third-choice striker, behind England international Ivan Toney and Saudi Arabia forward Feras Al Brikan.

His arrival would make Radif the sixth signing made by Al-Ahli during the current summer transfer window. The club have already brought in Gambian Aboubakar Sidi Kinteh, Portugal international Francisco Trincao, Armenia midfielder Eduard Spertsyan, and Saudi players Mishal Al-Mutairi and Nayef Masoud.

Radif’s most recent spell was with Al-Fayha during the second half of last season. He made eight appearances for the club but did not score, although he provided two assists.

The agreement with Al-Ahli now gives the young Saudi striker an opportunity to revive his career at one of the country’s leading clubs, after limited playing time during his final loan spell and a proposed move to Al-Ittihad that failed to materialise.