Al-Ittihad Signs Fares Abdi to Strengthen Left Flank

Al-Ittihad have moved decisively in the market, sealing the signing of left-back Fares Abdi from Neom after swift final negotiations over financial and contractual terms.

The deal, announced across the club’s official channels, had been pushed hard by head coach Jens Wissing, who identified Abdi as the man to lock down the left flank following the death of Mario Metaj. In a summer of targeted recruitment rather than headline-chasing, this is a move that speaks directly to need.

Wissing’s staff drew up a shortlist. Abdi came out on top. The 27-year-old offers a blend of Saudi league know-how and steady production that appealed to a coaching staff intent on balance as much as star power.

Born in California, Abdi learned the game on American pitches before making the jump to Saudi football with Al-Wehda in 2020. From there, he built his résumé with Al-Qadsiah and Al-Fayha, gradually carving out a reputation as a reliable, hard-running full-back who can live with the physical tempo of the league.

Last summer he joined Neom and delivered a full, durable campaign: 34 appearances, 3 assists, and a constant presence down the left. Those numbers are not spectacular, but they are exactly the kind of output that attracts a coach looking for trust over volatility.

For Al-Ittihad, this is another piece in a broader rebuild, a signing that plugs a clear gap and gives Wissing a specialist in a position that has weighed heavily since Metaj’s passing. For Abdi, it is a step into one of the country’s most demanding environments.