Al-Ittihad open summer recruitment with Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy

Al-Ittihad have begun their foreign recruitment for the current summer transfer window by signing Senegal midfielder Dion Lopy from Almeria, the club partly owned by Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Nassr.

Lopy completed and signed his contract with Al-Ittihad on Wednesday, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah. The 24-year-old midfielder has agreed a four-season deal that will run until 2030.

The transfer is understood to be worth 13m euros, with Al-Ittihad set to pay the fee in several instalments.

Lopy is the Jeddah club’s first new foreign signing of this summer’s transfer window. Al-Ittihad had previously activated the purchase option in the contract of Cameroonian defender Stefan Keller, who had been on loan from a club in Limassol, Cyprus.

The move is notable because Al-Ittihad’s first foreign acquisition has come from Almeria, a club in which Ronaldo owns a 25% stake. That deal has been completed while Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s club, have yet to make a summer signing.

Lopy is expected to replace Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, whose contract with Al-Ittihad ended after the conclusion of last season. Fabinho subsequently left the club when his agreement expired.

The Senegal international primarily operates as a defensive midfielder, although he is also capable of playing in a deeper central midfield role. His versatility is expected to give Al-Ittihad more options in the middle of the pitch.

Lopy joined Almeria in 2023 after moving from Stade de Reims. Since arriving at the Spanish club, he has made 105 appearances, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

His arrival represents the opening move in Al-Ittihad’s foreign recruitment campaign this summer as the club reshapes its midfield following Fabinho’s departure. The agreement also links the Saudi side’s transfer activity with a club associated with Ronaldo, whose 25% ownership of Almeria makes the deal particularly striking in the context of the Saudi Pro League’s summer market.