JEDDAH, 28 June 2005 — Al-Ittihad club has acquired the services of Ahmad Al-Dokhi from Al-Hilal for a transfer fee of SR5 million. Ittihad have at least three other big names on their shopping list and are now in the final stages of negotiations with two of them, both strikers from the Saudi national team. This was announced by Ittihad President Mansour Al-Balawi in a press conference here yesterday.
Al-Balawi sealed the deal with the Riyadh-based Hilal club for the transfer of the Saudi national player on Sunday in Riyadh.
Al-Balawi said: “We only look for the best in Ittihad and Al-Dokhi is considered to be one of the best players in the country.”
National team strikers Yasser Al-Qahtani from Al-Qadisiya club and Al-Nasr’s Saad Al-Harthi will soon join Ittihad, according to Al-Balawi.
Saudi sports newspapers speculated that Al-Qahtani’s price could reach as high as SR19 million.
The 28-year old right-wing back Al-Dokhi refused to renew his contract with Hilal for another four years despite an offer of SR3 million cash by club president Prince Muhammad ibn Faisal. Al-Dokhi had asked for SR5 million from Hilal administration but was rejected.
Al-Dokhi was the first signed of the four players from Riyadh being eyed by Al-Balawi.
The third player on the list was Shabab international striker Atram. Al-Balawi said: “Shabab president agreed to lend us Atram for the AFC tournament. But as everyone knows Shabab has participated in earlier stages of the same championship and lost, so we are just waiting to make sure if there is any technical barrier in the rules and regulations of the ACF championship in his participation with Ittihad before making a decision.”
The club president also said that Chico, the Brazilian midfielder, who is currently playing for Santos, is joining Ittihad in the AFC championship campaign. He will rejoin his former teammates during their AFC preparation camp in Italy.
Defending champions Ittihad are seeded in the AFC quarterfinal. To beef up their lineup, a well-known international striker will be recruited and his name will be announced in the coming days, Al-Balawi said.
Al-Balawi took Al-Dokhi on his private airplane to Jeddah where he signed the contract.
Hundreds of eager fans flocked Al-Ittihad club yesterday to attend the press conference. They sang club songs and expressed their appreciation to Al-Balawi, who told them: “Don’t thank me for it is my duty, as an Ittihad lover and fan.”
