Al-Ittihad sign Dion Lopy from Cristiano Ronaldo-owned Almeria

Al-Ittihad have begun their foreign recruitment for the current summer transfer window by signing Senegalese midfielder Dion Lopy from Almeria, the Spanish club in which Cristiano Ronaldo owns a 25% stake.

Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah reported on Wednesday that Lopy had signed his contract to join Al-Ittihad. The agreement will run for four seasons, keeping the 24-year-old at the club until 2030.

The transfer is understood to be worth 13m euros, with Al-Ittihad set to pay the fee in several instalments.

Lopy is the first new foreign signing made by Al-Ittihad during this summer’s transfer market. The club had previously activated the purchase option in the contract of Cameroonian defender Stefan Keller, who had been on loan from Cypriot club Limassol.

The move has attracted attention because Al-Ittihad’s first overseas signing has come from the club partly owned by Ronaldo, the captain of their traditional rivals Al Nassr. Al Nassr have yet to complete a summer signing at the time of the report.

Lopy is expected to replace Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, whose contract with Al-Ittihad expired after the end of last season. Fabinho’s departure left the club needing to strengthen its options in the defensive midfield position.

The Senegal international primarily operates as a defensive midfielder and can also play in a deeper central midfield role. His versatility gives Al-Ittihad an additional option in an important area of the team.

Lopy has been an Almeria player since 2023, when he joined from Stade de Reims. During his time with the Spanish side, he has made 105 appearances, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

His arrival represents the first step in Al-Ittihad’s foreign recruitment programme this summer as the club reshapes its midfield following Fabinho’s exit. The deal also links the Saudi club’s transfer activity with Almeria, whose ownership includes Ronaldo, despite Al Nassr’s lack of activity in the current window so far.