Al-Ittihad have renewed the contract of one of Saudi football’s most promising young players, with Mohammed Flatah agreeing a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2029.
The Saudi club announced the agreement on Thursday as they continued an active summer transfer window. The decision is intended to secure the future of a player regarded internally as one of the standout prospects to have emerged from the club’s recent youth ranks.
Flatah was promoted to Al-Ittihad’s first team in 2024, when he was only 17. The move came during the tenure of French manager Laurent Blanc, who had been impressed by the teenager’s ability and potential.
Although Flatah has not yet enjoyed a sustained run of first-team appearances, the club’s decision to extend his contract reflects its belief that he can play a more important role in the years ahead. He could also benefit from the arrival of German manager Jens Wissing, particularly because Al-Ittihad currently have a clear shortage of options in midfield.
The new agreement gives the club greater security over Flatah’s future as they prepare for the start of the new campaign. It also represents a commitment to developing a young player who has so far made his way into the senior set-up without being given many opportunities to establish himself in competitive matches.
Al-Ittihad have been particularly active in the market in recent hours. The club have completed the signing of left-back Fares Abdi from Neom, while Senegalese midfielder Dion Lopy has joined from Almeria after Al-Ittihad activated the purchase option included in his contract.
The club have also completed the permanent signing of Cameroon defender Stefan Keller by triggering the relevant clause in his agreement.
Those moves come as Al-Ittihad finalise preparations for their opening competitive fixture of the new season. The club will begin on 11 August, when they face Al Jazira in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Their Saudi Pro League campaign will then start on Saturday, 15 August. Al-Ittihad will host Al Kholood at Al-Inma Stadium in the opening round.
The contract extension for Flatah is therefore part of a wider period of activity for the club, combining immediate recruitment with efforts to retain and develop young talent. While the midfielder has so far had limited involvement in the first team, the midfield shortage and the change in management could create a route to greater involvement during the forthcoming campaign.