In an atmosphere of warmth and deep appreciation for his illustrious career, the players of Al-Ittihad's first football team, along with the coaching staff led by Portuguese coach Conceição, bid farewell to French star N'Golo Kanté on the sidelines of the team's training session held Wednesday evening. This farewell reflected the high esteem in which the player was held within the club during his time representing Al-Ittihad.

The farewell ceremony included a touching gesture from his teammates and coaching staff, who signed a large Al-Ittihad jersey bearing Kanté's name as a memento of his time with the team. Coach Conceição also delivered a moving farewell speech to the players, praising the French star's professionalism and high level of discipline, and wishing him success in his next professional endeavor.

The board of directors of Al-Ittihad Club officially announced this morning their acceptance of the offer to purchase the remainder of N'Golo Kanté's contract from Turkish club Fenerbahçe. In their statement, the Al-Ittihad administration praised the player's significant contributions, noting that this decision came after a thorough technical and administrative review. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the French international in Turkish football, a move eagerly anticipated by sports fans given the player's skill and extensive experience.

Looking back, N'Golo Kanté's arrival at Al-Ittihad during the 2023/2024 summer transfer window was a landmark event in the Saudi Professional League. He joined from English club Chelsea after a trophy-laden career, most notably winning the World Cup with France, the UEFA Champions League, and the English Premier League. His arrival at that time was part of a historic shift in Saudi football, attracting some of the world's best players.

In terms of numbers and statistics, the 34-year-old left a clear mark with Al-Ittihad this season. Kanté participated in 26 matches for the "Tigers," demonstrating tactical discipline and high physical fitness, scoring two goals and providing one assist, accumulating a total of 2,287 minutes of playing time. These figures are a testament to his consistent value as one of the top midfielders, making his move to Fenerbahçe a significant addition to the Turkish league and a major acquisition for his new club.

The coaching staff of Al-Shabab FC received a significant morale and tactical boost ahead of the resumption of the Saudi Professional League, with the club officially announcing the readiness of Moroccan star Abderrazak Hamdallah to participate in the upcoming match against Al-Kholoud FC. This match is part of the 21st round of the competition and is scheduled to be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah.

Al-Shabab's media center confirmed in an official statement published on the social media platform "X" (formerly Twitter) that the Moroccan striker had actively participated in the team's group training sessions, following the completion of his recent treatment and rehabilitation program to recover from a muscle injury. Hamdallah's return is considered a major boost for the coach, given his high goal-scoring record and extensive experience in Saudi football.

Abderrazak Hamdallah had been sidelined for Al-Shabab due to a muscle injury, depriving the team of his services in crucial domestic and continental competitions. His return comes at a pivotal time in the season, as Al-Shabab aims to improve its league position and compete strongly for top spots that would qualify them for Asian tournaments, relying on the goal-scoring prowess of the player who has long been a key figure in the Saudi league's attack.

Hamdallah boasts a distinguished and historic record in the Saudi Professional League, having previously represented Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad and achieved numerous records, including winning the league's top scorer title on multiple occasions. Al-Shabab fans view his return with great optimism, relying on him to convert chances into goals and decide difficult matches, especially given the intense competition in this season's league, which features a host of world-class players.

The match between Al-Shabab and Al-Kholoud is scheduled for Saturday evening, with Al-Shabab traveling to Buraidah for a challenging away game. The match holds particular significance for both sides; Al-Shabab aims to continue their winning streak and confirm the return of their star player, while Al-Kholoud seeks to capitalize on home advantage and secure a positive result against one of the league's top teams.

All eyes in Saudi football are on Jeddah, where Al-Ittihad's new French signing, Georges Ellienkina, is set to make his debut in the team's training session this Wednesday evening. This important step comes as part of Al-Ittihad's intensive preparations for the highly anticipated and fiery clash against their traditional rivals, Al-Nassr, in a football derby eagerly awaited by fans.

Young striker George Ilyinkina arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah early Wednesday morning, coming from Monaco, France, after Al-Ittihad's management successfully secured his services during the winter transfer window. This signing is considered a significant addition to the Tigers' attack, with the coaching staff and Al-Ittihad fans placing great hope in the player's abilities to bolster the team's scoring prowess in the second half of the season.

In a related development, Al-Ittihad is intensifying its technical and physical preparations for its upcoming match against Al-Nassr in the Saudi Professional League. The derby, scheduled for 8:30 PM on Friday, February 6th, is part of the league's fixtures. This match carries immense importance, extending far beyond the three points at stake, given the long-standing and historic rivalry between the two clubs and the direct impact its outcome will have on both teams' morale for the remainder of the season.

In terms of the league standings, Al-Ittihad enters the match needing every point to climb back up the table, currently sitting in sixth place with 34 points. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr is enjoying a period of excellent form, occupying second place with 46 points and aiming to close the gap and seize the top spot. They are only one point behind league leaders Al-Hilal, making Friday's match a crucial turning point in the title race.

The signing of Elenikina reflects the Saudi league's continued strategy of attracting young international talent, not just established stars, thus enhancing the league's market and technical value on the international stage. A large crowd is expected at the stadium to welcome the new player and support the team in this crucial match, which could reshape the landscape of the Golden Square competition.