Eintracht Frankfurt are reportedly on the verge of selling Japanese international Ritsu Doan to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad after the two clubs reached an agreement over a €17m transfer. According to Kicker, only final formalities remain before the 28-year-old completes the move. The deal represents a significant financial concession for Eintracht, who paid SC Freiburg approximately €21m for Doan only last summer and will therefore accept a loss of around €4m after just one season.
The circumstances surrounding the proposed transfer underline Frankfurt’s pressing need to generate income before the transfer window closes. Doan had been firmly included in Adi Hütter’s plans for the new campaign and was expected to occupy an important role following the Austrian trainer’s return. Sporting considerations have nevertheless been superseded by Frankfurt’s financial requirements.
Frankfurt accept loss on Ritsu Doan
Doan never quite replicated his strongest Freiburg form during his sole season in Hessen, but remained an important contributor during a difficult 2025/26 campaign. The Japanese attacker registered four goals and four assists during the Hinrunde. All eight of those goal contributions came in Frankfurt victories, with Doan directly involved in five of the club’s seven league wins during that period.
His influence diminished following Albert Riera’s appointment. Doan was frequently deployed in a less natural role during the Rückrunde and added only one further goal and one assist. Frankfurt nevertheless expected Hütter to potentially restore the winger to something approaching his Freiburg level. The decision to sell him for less than the club paid one year ago therefore speaks to Eintracht’s need to secure transfer revenue.
Kicker reports that no concrete offers had materialized for other potential sale candidates Fares Chaïbi, Hugo Larsson, or Jean-Matteo Bahoya as of Sunday.
Kalimuendo return progresses in parallel
Frankfurt are simultaneously attempting to reinforce Hütter’s attack before the deadline. Get German Football News reported earlier today that Eintracht are working on a second loan spell for Nottingham Forest striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, with negotiations over the French attacker’s return reportedly advanced.
Kalimuendo scored six goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances during his first Frankfurt loan spell last season. Eintracht declined to activate the €27m purchase option contained in the original agreement, but a renewed temporary deal offers the club a considerably less expensive route toward bringing back a proven attacking option.
The timing leaves Frankfurt attempting to complete two significant offensive transactions simultaneously: converting Doan into urgently required transfer revenue while bringing Kalimuendo back without committing to another major permanent expenditure.
Al-Ittihad’s transfer window remains open beyond the German deadline, but Frankfurt’s need for funds means the Doan transaction is now moving toward completion considerably sooner.
