Al Ahli enter the 2026/27 campaign as back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite winners, a status that places them among the continent’s elite. Yet the summer brought significant upheaval: Matthias Jaissle, the architect of that continental dominance, departed for Newcastle United, and veteran stars Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessié both left upon contract expiry. In their place, Marino Pusic arrives from Al Jazira with a mandate to maintain the attacking identity that has defined the club’s recent success. The squad has been refreshed rather than rebuilt, with Francisco Trincão and Eduard Spertsyan installed as the direct replacements for Mahrez and Kessié. Early results have been mixed: a 3-0-3 record in the Saudi Pro League, sitting ninth, but an unbeaten start to their AFC Champions League Elite title defence.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Marino Pusic
Tactical Philosophy: Pusic arrives with a reputation for attacking, high-intensity football, and the club explicitly sought a coach whose philosophy “aligns with the identity and ambitions developed by Al Ahli in recent seasons.” The Dutch-Croatian has won league and cup titles in both the Netherlands and Ukraine, most recently managing Al Jazira in the UAE. His early weeks have been defined by a commitment to domination: after the AFC Champions League opener against Pakhtakor, Pusic insisted “we must be the better side and control the flow of the game” in every match. The transition from Jaissle’s methods has been smooth enough to preserve continuity, but Pusic has already shown willingness to rotate, resting several key players for the continental opener.
Preferred Formations: 4-2-3-1, as deployed in the Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Diriyah, with Trincão on the right, Galeno on the left, and Ivan Toney leading the line.
Strategic Transfer Activity
Al Ahli’s summer spending reached approximately €68.5 million, the second-highest in the Saudi Pro League behind Al Hilal. The strategy was clear: replace departing veterans with younger, high-quality alternatives while retaining the core that delivered two continental titles. Francisco Trincão arrived from Sporting Lisbon for €39.3 million, the club’s marquee investment. Eduard Spertsyan joined from Krasnodar for €21 million. The free departures of Mahrez and Kessié created both wage flexibility and tactical voids that the new arrivals were tasked with filling.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trincão | Winger | Sporting Lisbon | €39.3m |
| Eduard Spertsyan | Attacking Midfielder | Krasnodar | €21m |
| Aboubakar Sidi Kinteh | Centre-Back | Tromsø | €6.5m |
| Naif Masoud | Central Midfielder | Al Fateh | Undisclosed |
| Mishal Al Mutairi | Forward | Abha | Undisclosed |
| Artem Bondarenko | Midfielder | Shakhtar Donetsk | Loan (€1m) |
Francisco Trincão is the headline arrival and the direct replacement for Riyad Mahrez on the right flank. The Portuguese World Cup winger brings pedigree from Barcelona, Wolves, and Sporting, where he won the Primeira Liga. He has started all six league matches, contributing two goals and two assists, and has settled quickly into the attacking structure. Eduard Spertsyan was signed to fill the creative void left by Kessié’s departure, and the Armenian has already registered two goals and two assists in six league appearances. Naif Masoud, a Saudi international, arrives from Al Fateh on a four-year contract as a domestic addition to the engine room. Aboubakar Sidi Kinteh, a Gambian centre-back, was recruited from Tromsø to provide depth and long-term defensive cover.
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Édouard Mendy (#16): The Senegalese goalkeeper remains the undisputed number one when fully fit. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, Mendy’s shot-stopping and command of the penalty area are foundational. He has started five of the opening six league matches, keeping the defence organised behind him.
Abdulrahman Al Sanbi (#1): The Saudi goalkeeper stepped in for the league opener against Al-Diriyah due to Mendy’s lack of match fitness and performed admirably. He provides reliable cover and competition.
Salman Al Jadani (#22): The young Saudi goalkeeper provides depth and development potential.
Abdullah Abdo (#62): A homegrown option providing third-choice cover.
Defenders
Roger Ibañez (#3): The Brazilian centre-back is the defensive cornerstone and the only outfield player to have started every league match this season. His physicality, recovery pace, and aerial dominance make him indispensable in Pusic’s back line.
Merih Demiral (#28): The Turkish international partners Ibañez in central defence. Demiral’s aggression and aerial ability provide the steel that complements Ibañez’s composure, though his disciplinary record, one red card already this season, is a concern.
Rayan Hamidou (#24): The Saudi right-back has started five of six league matches, his energy and defensive discipline making him a reliable outlet on the flank.
Zakaria Hawsawi (#25): The left-back provides width and attacking thrust, his delivery from wide areas offering a different dimension to Al Ahli’s build-up play.
Mohammed Sulaiman (#5): The young Saudi centre-back provides depth and development potential behind Ibañez and Demiral.
Abubakar Sidi Kinteh (#): The Gambian centre-back signed from Tromsø as a long-term investment. At 19, he represents the future of Al Ahli’s defensive core.
Ali Majrashi (#27): The Saudi right-back provides experienced cover and competition for Hamidou.
Midfielders
Valentin Atangana Edoa (#): The 21-year-old French midfielder has been one of the surprises of the early season, starting all six league matches and accumulating 516 minutes. His energy and ball-carrying ability have made him an unexpected fixture in Pusic’s midfield.
Eduard Spertsyan (#): The Armenian international is the creative fulcrum of the new-look midfield. His two goals and two assists in six league appearances demonstrate his influence, and his set-piece delivery adds a dimension that was absent after Mahrez’s departure.
Naif Masoud (#): The Saudi international joined from Al Fateh to add domestic depth to the engine room. His four-year contract signals the club’s commitment to building around Saudi talent alongside the foreign stars.
Artem Bondarenko (#): The Ukrainian midfielder arrived on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk with a €1 million fee. His technical quality and experience in European competition provide depth in the engine room.
Forwards
Ivan Toney (#): The English striker is the focal point of Al Ahli’s attack and the early-season standout. Toney has scored eight goals in six league matches, including three penalties, a rate of 1.40 goals per 90 minutes. His physicality, movement, and clinical finishing make him the most feared striker in the Saudi Pro League.
Francisco Trincão (#7): The Portuguese winger inherited Mahrez’s number seven shirt and has made an encouraging start. His two goals and two assists in six league appearances suggest he is adapting well to Saudi football, and his dribbling and creativity on the right flank provide a constant threat.
Galeno (#): The Brazilian winger operates on the left flank, his pace and direct running offering a different profile to Trincão’s more technical style. He has started five league matches, contributing to the attacking structure.
Feras Al Brikan (#): The Saudi striker salvaged a point in the AFC Champions League opener against Pakhtakor, equalising in stoppage time. His role as a super-sub and rotation option is invaluable given the congested calendar.
Mishal Al Mutairi (#): The young Saudi forward joined from Abha as a domestic attacking option, providing depth behind Toney.
Abdullah Radif (#): The Saudi striker provides further attacking depth and competition.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Édouard Mendy
The Senegalese goalkeeper is the most experienced and decorated figure in the dressing room. His Champions League-winning pedigree and commanding presence make him the natural leader, though his fitness is carefully managed given his importance.
The Leadership Committee: Roger Ibañez, Merih Demiral, and Ivan Toney provide leadership across the spine of the team. Ibañez’s consistency and Demiral’s aggression set the defensive tone, while Toney’s goalscoring output commands respect in the attacking third.
Homegrown Quota Check: The Saudi Pro League requires clubs to register a minimum number of Saudi nationals, and Al Ahli have invested in domestic talent through the signings of Naif Masoud and the promotion of academy players such as Abdullah Abdo, Salman Al Jadani, and Mohammed Sulaiman. The club’s U21 pathway, overseen by Rui Santos, is designed to develop the next generation of Saudi internationals.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview: Al Ahli’s €68.5 million summer outlay places them second in the Saudi Pro League’s spending hierarchy, behind only Al Hilal’s €193 million. The departures of Mahrez and Kessié freed significant wage capacity, which was reinvested in the younger, more expensive Trincão and Spertsyan. The club’s financial position is secure, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s broader sporting project.
Contract Red Alerts: Marino Pusic signed a contract until 2028, providing stability in the dugout. Naif Masoud is contracted until 2030. The club’s focus will be on ensuring Ivan Toney’s goalscoring form is rewarded with a contract extension, as his current deal will inevitably attract interest from European clubs.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch: Abdullah Abdo, Salman Al Jadani, and Mohammed Sulaiman are the homegrown talents closest to regular first-team involvement. The club’s appointment of Rui Santos as U21 Head Coach and Sandro Pinto as Head of Goalkeeper Coaching reflects a strategic commitment to developing Saudi talent.
Notable Out on Loan: Saad Belobaid returned from his loan spell. The club’s loan strategy focuses on ensuring young Saudi players gain competitive minutes before returning to challenge for first-team places.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Ivan Toney (First Choice). Toney has converted three penalties in six league matches and is the undisputed first-choice taker.
Direct Free-Kicks: Eduard Spertsyan / Francisco Trincão. Spertsyan’s set-piece delivery was a key reason for his €21 million arrival, and he has already demonstrated his quality from dead-ball situations.
Corners & Crosses: Eduard Spertsyan and Zakaria Hawsawi are the primary deliverers, with Francisco Trincão offering an alternative from the right flank.
For Fantasy Saudi Pro League managers, Ivan Toney is the standout asset. His eight goals in six matches, including penalty duties, make him the premium forward selection. Eduard Spertsyan’s goals, assists, and set-piece involvement make him a valuable midfield option. Francisco Trincão’s adaptation to Saudi football has been encouraging, and his output should increase as he builds understanding with Toney.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
Al Ahli enter the 2026/27 season in a state of controlled transition. The departure of Matthias Jaissle after two continental titles was always going to be disruptive, and the simultaneous exits of Mahrez and Kessié removed two of the most influential figures of the club’s recent era. Pusic’s appointment was designed to preserve continuity, and the early signs suggest the attacking identity remains intact.
The primary concern is league form. A 3-0-3 record and ninth place after six matches is below the standard expected of a club with Al Ahli’s resources and ambitions. The 2-3 defeat at Al-Qadsiah exposed defensive vulnerabilities, and Demiral’s disciplinary record is a recurring risk. Pusic must find the balance between the attacking football he demands and the defensive solidity required to challenge for the Saudi Pro League title.
The AFC Champions League remains the club’s strongest suit. The unbeaten start to the title defence, salvaged by Al Brikan’s late equaliser against Pakhtakor, preserves the momentum of two consecutive continental triumphs. A third consecutive title would be unprecedented, and Pusic has the squad depth to rotate effectively across competitions.
Ivan Toney’s goalscoring form is the foundation on which the season will be built. If he maintains his current rate, Al Ahli will outscore most opponents. The integration of Trincão and Spertsyan as the creative heirs to Mahrez and Kessié will determine whether the attacking fluency of the past two seasons is preserved. The margin between another triumphant campaign and a trophyless one is fine, but Al Ahli’s resources and recent history suggest they are equipped to contend on all fronts.
