Al-Ittihad have extended the contract of teenage winger Suhaib Hawsawi for three seasons, keeping the 19-year-old at the club until 2029 amid reported interest from Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal.
The club announced the agreement on its official account on X, securing another promising player who has emerged through its youth system.
Hawsawi impressed for Al-Ittihad Under-21s during the previous season of the Jawwy Elite League. His performances are understood to have attracted the attention of Al-Hilal, who were reportedly considering a move for the winger to strengthen their Under-21 squad for the forthcoming campaign.
The new contract represents the second renewal completed by Al-Ittihad in the space of 48 hours. The club announced on Thursday that midfielder Mohammed Falatah had also signed a three-year extension.
Falatah was promoted to the first team about two years ago, in 2024, while Laurent Blanc was in charge. He was only 17 at the time, but the French manager was impressed by his ability and opted to bring him into the senior set-up.
Hawsawi’s development has similarly placed him among the young talents Al-Ittihad are seeking to retain as they prepare for the new season. The latest agreement ensures the club will continue to have the winger under contract through 2029, rather than risk losing him while interest from Al-Hilal has been reported.
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Al-Ittihad are due to begin their competitive schedule on 11 August, when they face UAE club Al Jazira in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The club, known as “the Brigadier”, will then open its Saudi Pro League campaign on Saturday, 15 August. Al-Ittihad will host Al-Kholood at Alinma Stadium in the first round.
The contract decisions involving Hawsawi and Falatah come as the club prepares for those fixtures and continues to invest in players who have progressed through its youth teams. Hawsawi’s three-year extension follows a season in which his displays for the Under-21 side brought him wider attention, while Falatah’s earlier promotion showed the route from the academy to the senior team under Blanc.
With both players now committed for the next three seasons, Al-Ittihad have moved quickly to protect two of their young prospects before the start of the new campaign.