Naif Masoud: Al-Ahli sign Saudi midfielder from Al-Fateh on four-year deal

Al-Ahli have completed the signing of Saudi midfielder Naif Masoud from Al-Fateh on a four-year contract, making him the club’s fifth addition of the current summer transfer window.

The Jeddah club announced the deal in an official statement on their website, confirming that Masoud has signed a contract running until 2030 as Al-Ahli continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Saudi Pro League season.

Masoud, 25, described the move as a decisive moment in his career and underlined the weight of expectation that comes with joining one of the kingdom’s most prominent sides.

“The move to Al-Ahli is an important step in my career. I know very well the value of this club and its great history, and I also realise the size of the responsibility towards its fans,” he said.

“I will give everything I have on the pitch, and I hope to live up to expectations and that we can achieve together the successes that befit the name of Al-Ahli.”

Fifth signing of an ambitious summer

Masoud’s arrival continues an aggressive recruitment drive by Al-Ahli, who have been active in reshaping their squad as they seek to compete at the top end of the Saudi Pro League and in domestic cup competitions.

He becomes the fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Gambian midfielder/forward Bubacarr Trawally Sidibeh (Aboubakar “Sidi” Kinteh in local reports), Portugal winger Francisco Trincao, Armenia international Eduard Spertsyan and Saudi forward Mishal Al-Mutairi.

The latest addition bolsters Al-Ahli’s midfield options, providing another domestic player at a time when Saudi clubs are carefully managing the balance between foreign and home-grown talent within their squads.

From Al-Qadsiah to Al-Ahli

Masoud began his professional journey at Al-Qadsiah, where he was promoted to the first team in 2020. After emerging there, he spent a loan spell with Al-Khaleej, moving in January 2024 to gain more top-flight experience.

He then joined Al-Fateh in the summer of the same year, where he featured regularly and established himself as a dependable midfield option in the Saudi Pro League.

During the most recent season, Masoud played 27 matches for Al-Fateh across the Roshn Saudi League and the King’s Cup (King’s Cup of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques). He scored one goal and did not register any assists, statistics that suggest his primary contribution comes in build-up play and defensive work rather than in direct goal involvement.

Responsibility and expectations at Al-Ahli

At Al-Ahli, Masoud will be expected to compete for a starting place in a squad increasingly filled with high-profile foreign signings and ambitious local players.

His comments on “responsibility towards the fans” reflect the pressure that comes with joining a club with a large and demanding supporter base. Al-Ahli, historically one of Saudi Arabia’s most successful and widely followed teams, are under scrutiny to convert their spending into silverware.

By committing Masoud until 2030, Al-Ahli have signalled their belief in his long-term potential. The deal also aligns with a broader trend in Saudi football of securing younger Saudi players on extended contracts, both to stabilise squads and to build a stronger core of national-team-calibre talent within the league.

As the transfer window continues, attention will turn to how Masoud adapts to his new surroundings in Jeddah – and whether his arrival helps Al-Ahli translate an ambitious summer into tangible success on the pitch.