Al-Ittihad commit Suhaib Hawsawi to 2029 amid reported Al-Hilal interest

Al-Ittihad have extended the contract of teenage winger Suhaib Hawsawi for three seasons, securing his future with the club until 2029 after reported interest from Saudi rivals Al-Hilal.

The 19-year-old has been rewarded following a series of impressive performances for Al-Ittihad Under-21s in the Jawwy Elite League last season.

Al-Ittihad confirmed the agreement in a post on their official X account, announcing that Hawsawi would remain part of the club’s plans for the next three years.

The renewal is understood to have come after reports that Al-Hilal were considering a move for Hawsawi. The Riyadh-based club were said to be interested in signing the winger to strengthen their Under-21 side for the forthcoming Jawwy Elite League campaign.

The deal makes Hawsawi the second young Al-Ittihad player to have his contract extended within 48 hours. On Thursday, the club announced a new three-year agreement for Mohammed Flatah.

Flatah was promoted to Al-Ittihad’s first team about two years ago, in 2024, when he was only 17. His promotion came during the tenure of French manager Laurent Blanc, who had been impressed by the player’s ability.

The latest contract announcements underline Al-Ittihad’s intention to retain promising young players as the club prepares for the new season. Hawsawi’s progress at Under-21 level has now earned him a longer-term commitment, while Flatah has already been given first-team exposure since his promotion.

Al-Ittihad will begin their competitive campaign on 11 August, when they face United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Their Saudi league season will start four days later, on Saturday, 15 August, with a home fixture against Al-Kholood. The match will be played at Alinma Stadium in the opening round of the Saudi league.

Hawsawi’s new contract comes as Al-Ittihad continue preparations for those fixtures and seek to safeguard the development of their emerging players. The club’s decision follows a strong season for the winger with the Under-21 team and reports of interest from one of their traditional rivals.

By extending Hawsawi’s stay through to 2029, Al-Ittihad have moved quickly to retain another player identified as part of their future plans. The agreement also follows the renewal for Flatah, who was first elevated to the senior squad under Blanc after the French coach recognised his potential at the age of 17.