Al-Ittihad push to sign Ritsu Doan as Eintracht Frankfurt weigh €18m offer

Al-Ittihad are pushing to sign Ritsu Doan from Eintracht Frankfurt, but the proposed move still depends on the Bundesliga club’s decision rather than an agreement being complete.

The Saudi Pro League side have reached an understanding with Doan over an immediate transfer, according to Sky Germany, and have placed an offer of around €18m in front of Frankfurt. That leaves the operation at a decisive but unfinished stage: the player side is advanced, but Frankfurt have not yet given the green light.

Doan, 28, only joined Eintracht from Freiburg last summer and is under contract until 2030. That gives Frankfurt control of the situation, even if Al-Ittihad’s move has now forced a decision over whether to cash in before the window closes or keep a player signed as a major attacking addition just a year ago.

The Japan international’s first season in Frankfurt did not fully match the level he had reached at Freiburg, where he became one of the Bundesliga’s most productive wide players. He had joined Eintracht after scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in his final Freiburg campaign, form that helped drive his value above the level of the current Saudi offer.

Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter has already made clear he would prefer not to lose Doan, describing him as a high-class player while acknowledging that clubs can lose some control while the market remains open. That tension is now central to the story: Al-Ittihad have moved far enough to test Frankfurt’s position, but not far enough for the transfer to be considered agreed.

For Al-Ittihad, Doan would add a left-footed wide attacker with Bundesliga and international experience as the Saudi club continue to reshape their forward line. For Frankfurt, the timing is the complication. Accepting the offer would bring funds back into the club, but it would also remove a senior attacking option at a point in the window when replacement planning becomes more difficult.

The next step is Frankfurt’s response. Until that arrives, Doan’s potential move to Al-Ittihad remains advanced on the player side but unresolved at club level.