Al-Ittihad Saudi Club officially announced the completion of one of its most prominent signings of the current transfer window, acquiring Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Spanish club Sevilla. This move comes as part of the club's management's efforts to strengthen the attacking capabilities of the first football team and compete strongly for domestic and continental titles.
Background of the deal and its sporting context
This signing comes at a time when Al-Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Professional League champions from two seasons ago, are seeking to regain their footing and get back on track in the current competitions. The team has faced challenges in attack, prompting the management to search for a top-class striker with European and international experience. En-Nesyri is seen as the ideal solution to this dilemma, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the future of French striker Karim Benzema with the team. The En-Nesyri deal is not merely a replacement, but a qualitative addition capable of creating a new dynamic in the forward line alongside the existing big names.
Who is Youssef En-Nesyri? A career full of goals
Youssef En-Nesyri, 27, is considered one of the most prominent Moroccan strikers of the last decade. He began his professional career in Europe with Spanish club Málaga, before moving to Leganés, and then to Sevilla in 2020, where he reached the peak of his career. With the Andalusian club, En-Nesyri won the Europa League twice and scored crucial goals in various competitions, including the Champions League. Internationally, En-Nesyri is a key player for the Moroccan national team and scored the historic goal against Portugal that propelled the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making them the first Arab and African team to achieve this feat.
The expected impact of the deal on the Roshen League
En-Nesyri's arrival is expected to have a significant impact both domestically and regionally. Locally, his arrival will ignite competition in the Saudi Professional League, which has become a destination for some of the world's top players. His presence will create exciting matchups with opposing defenders and intensify the Jeddah derby and the classic matches against Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Regionally, the deal reinforces the Saudi league's position as the strongest league in Asia and the Middle East, confirming its ability to attract top-tier players from Europe's top five leagues. En-Nesyri is scheduled to join the team's training sessions in the coming days, making him ready to participate in upcoming matches. Al-Ittihad fans eagerly await his debut, anticipating seeing him don the club's jersey and begin his goal-scoring journey.
