The Al-Ahli Chronicle
Market31 Aug 2026
Roger Ibañez asks to leave Al-Ahli
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market31 Aug 2026
Al-Ahli sell Saleh Abu Al-Shamat for $6.4M
Saleh Abu Al-Shamat has left for Al-Ittihad in a $6.4M deal. The accountants are pleased; the supporters are less certain.
Market31 Aug 2026
Al-Ahli turn down Al-Orobah for Mohammed Sulaiman
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Roger Ibañez in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Al-Ahli this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Market31 Aug 2026
Business is business: Abdullah Abdo goes
Al-Nassr paid $520.0K and Al-Ahli took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
A masterclass from Galeno
Marked 9.06 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Match29 Aug 2026
Al-Ahli see off Al-Khaleej
Three points for Al-Ahli, 1‑0 the final word against Al-Khaleej in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Valentin Atangana gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
A defender's afternoon for Merih Demiral
Defensive actions: 15. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
In brief
- Squad Galeno finally opens his account
- Player ratings Ivan Toney keeps on missing
- Player ratings Nobody could get near Matheus Gonçalves