Al Shabab have announced their first signing of the current summer transfer window, bringing in former Al Ittihad midfielder Awad Al Nashri on a free transfer after his contract with the Jeddah club expired.
The Riyadh side confirmed on their official X account that the Saudi Arabia international has signed a two-year deal, running until 2028, with an option to extend for a further season.
Al Nashri, 24, left Al Ittihad at the end of last season after the club chose not to renew his contract, ending a six-year association that began when he was promoted to the first team in 2020.
His move to Al Shabab makes him the first official signing under new German head coach Thomas Letsch, who recently took charge of the team, replacing Algerian coach Nouredine Ben Zekri.
Fourth departure from Al Ittihad this summer
Al Nashri was the fourth player to depart Al Ittihad in the current transfer window. He followed Colombian forward Ricardo Carbalho, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho and Saudi winger Abdulaziz Al Bishi out of the club.
Unlike some of those exits, the central midfielder’s departure came without a transfer fee, as he became a free agent when his deal ran down at the conclusion of the last campaign.
Over the past six seasons, Al Nashri made 80 first-team appearances for Al Ittihad in all competitions. Despite that volume of games, he did not register a single goal or assist for the club.
International ambitions
The move to Al Shabab is seen as an opportunity for Al Nashri to re-establish himself as a regular starter after limited involvement at Al Ittihad in recent months.
He is aiming to use increased playing time in Riyadh to push his way back into the Saudi Arabia national team setup. The midfielder was previously part of the squad that took part in the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup.
Al Shabab, one of the traditional heavyweights of Saudi football, are rebuilding their squad after a period of transition, with Letsch tasked with reshaping the team ahead of the new season. Al Nashri’s arrival marks the first step in that recruitment drive during this transfer window.
