Roger Ibanez commits to Al-Ahli as defender signs long-term deal

Roger Ibanez has signed a new contract with Al-Ahli Saudi FC that will keep him at the club until 2030, ending uncertainty over the future of one of their most important defenders.

The Brazil international said he was delighted to continue his career with the Saudi club and described Al-Ahli as home after the agreement was formally announced.

“I am very happy. A new year begins and another year starts in which I will continue here after renewing my contract,” Ibanez said in a video published on Al-Ahli’s social media channels after he put pen to paper.

The 26-year-old added: “I am at home and very happy. My children are at home and my family is at home, so we are in our home.”

He also thanked the club’s management for the confidence it had shown in him.

Ibanez’s renewal comes after a number of clubs from the English league had identified him as a potential target in recent months. Al-Ahli’s management, however, was determined to keep the defender, particularly during the period of uncertainty that followed the departure of German manager Matthias Jaissle.

The centre-back joined Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023 from Italian club Roma. Since then, he has established himself as a regular and influential member of the side, producing consistent performances and becoming one of the team’s leading defensive figures.

His new deal is also intended to preserve the core of the squad that delivered one of the most successful periods in Al-Ahli’s recent history on the continental stage.

Ibanez played a direct part in the club’s achievements last season, most notably their triumph in the AFC Champions League Elite. Al-Ahli also won the Saudi Super Cup during the campaign, further underlining the defender’s importance to the team.

The decision to extend his contract through to 2030 reflects Al-Ahli’s desire to retain the players who helped produce those successes and to maintain continuity in a squad that has made a significant impact in Asian football.

For Ibanez, the agreement provides a long-term commitment to the club where he has become an established defensive leader since arriving from Roma. His comments after the announcement also highlighted the personal connection he has developed with Al-Ahli, as he spoke of his family’s sense of belonging in Saudi Arabia.

The club’s decision follows a period in which interest from English clubs had raised questions about whether the defender might leave. Instead, Al-Ahli have secured his future and retained a player who has been a key part of their defensive structure since his arrival in 2023.