Al-Ittifaq Club has secured the signing of French striker Ahmed Hassan Coca for the current summer transfer window.
Coca joins Al-Ittifaq after a stint with Lohafer, where he scored three goals and provided three assists in 16 appearances during the latter half of the previous season. The 32-year-old’s move marks his first experience in the Arab region, following a career that has seen him play in Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and France, with his early football development occurring at Al-Ahly’s youth academy.
Coca’s Role at Al-Ittifaq
With the recent acquisitions made by Al-Ittifaq, Coca is set to be the team’s second striker, complementing French forward Moussa Dembélé. Dembélé, who previously played for Fulham, Lyon, and atlético Madrid, suffered a cruciate ligament tear in Febuary during a Saudi League match against Al-Akhdoud. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately six months, with a return anticipated around September.
Prior to his injury, dembélé had made 47 appearances for Al-Ittifaq, accumulating 3602 minutes on the field. During this time, he netted 21 goals and contributed 5 assists.
Al-ittifaq’s other recent signings include South African player Mohao Nkotta from Orlando Pirates, slovenian midfielder Andraž Šporar from Hellas Verona, Saudi right-back Awad Dahal from the club’s junior sector, and Saudi goalkeeper Abdul Basit Hawsawi, also promoted from the youth ranks.
