Abdullah Radif set to join Al Ahli after Al Ittihad pull out of deal

Al Ahli are poised to complete the signing of former Al Hilal striker Abdullah Radif on a free transfer after city rivals Al Ittihad withdrew from an agreed move due to financial constraints, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.

The 23-year-old forward, who was released permanently by Al Hilal this summer, had reached a three-year agreement with Al Ittihad worth a total of 27 million riyals (£5.7m), Saudi daily Al-Yaum reported.

However, the Jeddah club are said to have informed Radif that they no longer had the necessary funds to finalise the deal, abruptly halting the transfer and opening the door for Al Ahli to step in.

Al Ittihad deal collapses

Al-Yaum said Radif had “already agreed” to join Al Ittihad during the current transfer window on a contract running for three seasons, earning 9 million riyals per year.

But the club, who finished outside the Saudi Pro League title race last season, then told the player that the required liquidity was not available to complete the move.

That late change of stance is understood to have ended negotiations, leaving Radif to reconsider his options at a key stage of his career.

Al Ahli move back on

With the Al Ittihad transfer now off, Radif is expected to accept a previous proposal from Al Ahli and move across Jeddah without a fee being paid.

The deal would see him join one of the Pro League’s most ambitious clubs, who have spent heavily over the past year in an attempt to re-establish themselves among Saudi Arabia’s leading sides.

Radif would become Al Ahli’s third-choice centre-forward, competing with Brazilian striker Ricardo Matias and offering cover behind England international Ivan Toney and Saudi Arabia forward Firas Al-Buraikan.

Five years at Al Hilal and mixed loan spells

Al Hilal confirmed earlier this summer that Radif was leaving the club permanently, bringing to an end a five-year spell in the first team setup.

Since being promoted from the youth ranks, he has been loaned out to several Saudi Pro League sides in search of regular minutes, including Al Taawoun, Al Shabab, Al Ettifaq and Al Fayha.

His most recent stint came at Al Fayha during the second half of last season. He featured in only eight matches, failed to score, but registered two assists.

Fresh start in Jeddah

A move to Al Ahli would offer Radif the chance to rebuild his career at a club with major ambitions but also intense competition for places in attack.

While he is unlikely to start ahead of Toney or Al-Buraikan in the short term, his arrival would add depth to Al Ahli’s forward options as they push on multiple fronts next season.

The transfer, once completed, would also represent a symbolic victory for Al Ahli over Al Ittihad in the local rivalry, with the former capitalising on their neighbours’ financial hesitancy to secure the services of a young Saudi striker once earmarked for their squad.