Al-Ittihad signs Stefan Keller and En-Nesyri, bids farewell to Benzema and Kante
Al-Ittihad Saudi Club officially announced the completion of the signing of young Cameroonian defender Stephane Keller, 24, from Cypriot club Aris Limassol. The deal is a loan to represent the first team until the end of the current season, a move aimed at strengthening the club's defense for the remainder of the season.
This move comes at a crucial time, as Al-Ittihad undergoes unprecedented and radical changes to its foreign player roster during the winter transfer window. The transfer period saw the departure of several high-profile players, most notably French star Karim Benzema's move to arch-rivals Al-Hilal, and his compatriot N'Golo Kanté's transfer to the Turkish league. This has presented the club's management with a significant challenge in replacing these players with those capable of making a rapid impact on the team's performance.
In an effort to compensate for the departures and bolster their attacking force, Al-Ittihad's management successfully completed a high-profile swap deal, acquiring Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Turkish club Fenerbahçe. This deal was part of an agreement that saw N'Golo Kanté move to the Turkish team. Al-Ittihad are placing great hopes on En-Nesyri to lead their attack in the upcoming phase, thanks to his vast experience and impressive goal-scoring abilities.
Returning to new signing Stefan Keller, the Cameroonian defender boasts a promising resume, having previously represented Cameroon at the under-23 level, reflecting his physical and technical abilities. He began his professional career with Deportivo Alavés in Spain, before a stint in the Croatian league with Inter Zaprešić, followed by a spell at Aris Limassol in Cyprus, and finally arriving in Jeddah to defend the colors of Al-Ittihad.
Al-Ittihad faces significant challenges in the Saudi Professional League standings, currently sitting in sixth place with 34 points – a position that falls short of the ambitions of the Jeddah-based club's fans. All eyes are on today's highly anticipated match as Al-Ittihad travels to face Al-Nassr, currently in third place, in a highly anticipated Saudi derby. Al-Ittihad will be looking to improve their league position and prove the success of their recent winter signings.
