Al-Ittihad plan January signings as Youssef En-Nesyri exit speculation grows

Al-Ittihad are preparing to sign a defender and a forward in the forthcoming winter transfer window as they look to remain in contention for every competition during the 2026-27 season.

The Saudi Arabian club are fourth in the Saudi Pro League with 24 points from seven wins, three draws and one defeat, three points behind leaders Al-Hilal.

Their position is less encouraging in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they are 10th in the West region with four points from one win, one draw and two defeats.

Saudi newspaper Okaz reports that Al-Ittihad believe their current squad is not strong enough to sustain a challenge until the end of the campaign. The proposed additions are intended to improve the team during the second half of the season, with a defender and a striker identified as priorities.

However, the club face the usual difficulties associated with the January market, including a limited pool of available players, a short negotiating period and clubs’ willingness to increase their financial demands.

Al-Ittihad are seeking to address those issues through agreements being worked on by the club’s company to secure the funding required for the planned deals. No obstacle to arranging that financing has been identified.

Could En-Nesyri leave Al-Ittihad?

A defensive signing would reflect a shortage of options in that position. Saad Al-Mousa has returned from injury, but his team-mate Hassan Kadesh has since been affected by injury, while the club are not convinced by Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic’s abilities.

The intention to recruit another striker, however, could raise questions over the future of Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri, who has reportedly received strong offers to leave the Saudi club.

Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur wrote on his X account last Saturday that Russian club CSKA Moscow had made En-Nesyri a leading target for the winter window. He said CSKA intended to offer $15m to persuade Al-Ittihad to sell the Moroccan forward.

En-Nesyri’s agent, Fahd Sarh, has rejected suggestions that the player wants to leave during the upcoming transfer window.

“Offers have indeed arrived for Youssef En-Nesyri during the recent period, in preparation for a move in the winter transfer window,” Sarh told Saudi network Al-Mيدان.

“The idea of En-Nesyri leaving Al-Ittihad is not under consideration at the moment, and the player’s contract with the club remains in place.

“Any decision concerning En-Nesyri’s future will be the responsibility of the Al-Ittihad board, but the player’s focus is currently on continuing his journey with the team and achieving further success.”

Al-Ittihad currently have En-Nesyri and Nigeria forward George Ilenikhena as their central striking options, meaning a new forward may not be required if both remain at the club.

En-Nesyri’s record this season

The 29-year-old joined Al-Ittihad during the previous winter transfer window from Turkish club Fenerbahce, replacing French forward Karim Benzema after his move to rivals Al-Hilal.

Under German manager Jens Wissing, En-Nesyri has played 16 matches this season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.

Those performances earned him a place in Morocco’s squad for the current international break, after he missed the Atlas Lions’ 2026 World Cup campaign.