Al-Riyadh Club management has completed the procedures for officially signing Abdullah Al-Ammar, the former left-back of Al-Ahli Club, in a free transfer deal during the current winter transfer window, to strengthen the team’s ranks for the remainder of the current season’s competitions.
Al-Ammar signed for Al-Riyadh Club a few hours after mutually terminating his contract with Al-Ahli Club (Al-Raqi), as the two parties reached an agreement to end the contractual relationship amicably, which allowed the player the freedom to sign for any other club without referring to the management of his former club.
The reasons for Al-Ammar's departure from Al-Ahli stem from his exclusion from the plans of German coach Matthias Jäsle, the club's manager. The player requested the termination of his contract after being sidelined from official matches and group training sessions recently, a request granted by the German coach, who preferred to give other players a chance and restructure the squad to align with his tactical vision for the upcoming period.
The context of the transfers and the impact of the deal on the Roshan League
This deal comes at a time when Saudi Pro League clubs are experiencing a flurry of activity during the winter transfer window. Mid-table and lower-ranked clubs, such as Al-Riyadh, are seeking to attract experienced local players to bolster their chances of remaining in safe positions and improving their standings. Abdullah Al-Ammar is considered a valuable addition to Al-Riyadh's defense, given his previous experience in the Saudi league, having played for several clubs and delivered strong performances at left-back, a position where there is a shortage of available local options.
Al Ahly's current situation
On the other hand, Al-Ahli is experiencing a period of relative stability following their recent and important victory against Al-Akhdoud in the Roshan Professional League. The release of Al-Ammar is part of the management and coaching staff's plan to reduce the squad and focus on the core group upon which Yassla relies to continue winning and compete for top positions that qualify for continental competitions, amidst the fierce competition in the league this season.
These moves reflect the desire of Saudi clubs to take advantage of the winter transfer period to fill technical gaps, whether by getting rid of surplus players as Al-Ahli did, or by seizing free opportunities to strengthen the ranks as the management of Al-Riyadh Club did.
