The Spanish sporting director Ramon Planes is leading a strong rebuilding project at Al-Ittihad, aiming to strengthen the squad with promising players to ensure continued competition in all local and continental tournaments.
The newspaper “Al-Riyadhiah” revealed that Barnaoui, the captain of the Saudi youth national team, officially signed for Al-Ittihad after entering the free period, benefiting from the impending expiration of his contract with Al-Hilal in June.
The player’s contract with Al-Ittihad extends for three full seasons starting from next season and continues until the summer of 2028, making Barnaoui one of the future defensive pillars in the “Al-Omda” squad.
Mohamed Barnaoui, who is 19 years old, excels in playing as a right-back and center-back, and he previously progressed through the youth ranks of Al-Hilal before being loaned to Al-Orouba Club in the summer of 2024.
Despite Barnaoui’s loan, Al-Hilal was planning to renew his contract during the loan period; however, the negotiations did not result in an agreement, allowing Al-Ittihad to snatch him in a free transfer, which is considered a significant gain for the team.
During the current season, Barnaoui participated in four matches with Al-Orouba, totaling 178 minutes of play, without scoring or assisting any goals, but he proved his defensive worth despite limited appearances.
Al-Ittihad is experiencing a remarkable period this season, as they lead the Roshan Saudi League by 6 points over Al-Hilal, and they have qualified for the King’s Cup final after overcoming Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab in the knockout stages.
With this early deal, Al-Ittihad sends a strong message to its rivals in the transfer market, confirming its determination to continue its football dominance, especially after its strong comeback this season.
