Al Ittihad kicks off Hassan Kadsh renewal talks as defender’s contract nears expiry
27 November 2025
Kadsh Renewal Talks Kick Off as Al Ittihad Considers Extending His Deal
Al Ittihad has begun negotiations to extend Hassan Kadsh's contract as his current deal nears expiration at the end of the season. He could sign a new deal or potentially leave for free next summer if no agreement is reached in time.
Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya reports that the club's sports management has already opened talks with the defender to renew for a further term, and there is mutual interest in continuing the relationship beyond this season.
It hinges on the duration and financial terms of the new contract, but both sides are said to be close to an agreement.
A Career Timeline: Kadsh, Injuries, and International Duty
Hassan Kadsh is a Saudi international defender aged 33, born on September 26, 1992. He rose through the Al-Ettifaq youth system and made his first-team debut in 2012.
He stayed with Ettifaq for five seasons before moving to Al-Hilal in 2017, where he featured 31 times and contributed three assists, without scoring.
In 2020 he joined Al-Taawoun, appearing in 84 matches across three seasons and scoring five goals with one assist.
He joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, and has since played 75 games for the club, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 5,967 minutes. He helped Al-Ittihad win the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup last season.
Internationally, Kadsh earned his first call-up to the Saudi national team shortly after his move to the Tigers, making his debut in November 2023 under Italian coach Roberto Mancini. Since then he has earned 33 caps, scoring twice and providing one assist.
Injury Curse
What complicates Kadsh's impact is a string of injuries. He has suffered four prior injuries, and an injury kept him out for 111 days at the start of this season.
He had not featured for the national team in several months and missed the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong, returning to training as the league and Asian competitions began.
Last season he missed about 75 days due to injuries, and in 2021-2022 he was sidelined for about 247 days with an injury while with Taawoun before arriving at Al-Ittihad in 2023.
Renewals and the Club’s Strategic Focus
The renewal drive also includes the Portuguese Danilo Pereira, another fixture in defense who joined from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 on a two-year deals that ends in 2026.
Al-Ittihad has begun a comprehensive assessment of Pereira's performances and fitness to decide on an extension beyond this season.
Since arriving, Pereira has been a mainstay in the defense, featuring 42 games across all competitions last season and this season, with four goals, half of which came in the King’s Cup.
Fans still remember his standout performance in the cup semi-final against Al Shabab last season. His consistent levels have helped the club win the domestic double last season, the first time in the club’s modern era.
Thus, renewals for Kadsh and Pereira appear a priority for the club as it builds on a successful previous campaign.
Punchline 1: If Kadsh signs, the defense will be tighter than my budget after a month of free trial subscriptions.
Punchline 2: And if Pereira extends too, the backline might be so solid that even the referees will need a new whistle just to complain about it.
