Al-Ittihad Secures Lopy from Ronaldo-Backed Almería to Replace Fabinho

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad has officially announced the acquisition of Senegalese international Dion LopyPlayer·Dion Lopy, a defensive midfielder, from Spanish club UD AlmeríaTeam·UD Almería. The transfer marks a significant move for the Saudi Pro League side, as Lopy steps in to fill the void left by the departure of veteran Brazilian midfielder FabinhoPlayer·Fabinho.

FabinhoPlayer·Fabinho, who joined Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad in July 2023, concluded his tenure with the club after his contract expired on June 30, 2026. The decision not to renew his deal aligns with Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad's strategic initiative to lower the average age of its squad and integrate younger talent with long-term potential. During his time in Jeddah, FabinhoPlayer·Fabinho was an integral figure, contributing to Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad's Saudi League titles in 2024 and 2025, alongside a King's CupCompetition·King's Cup victory in 2025.

Dion LopyPlayer·Dion Lopy, at 24 years old, represents the profile of player Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad is now targeting. The Senegalese midfielder arrives from UD AlmeríaTeam·UD Almería for a reported transfer fee of approximately €19 million, with Almería retaining a 10% sell-on clause. Lopy demonstrated his capabilities during the 2025/26 Segunda DivisiónCompetition·Segunda División season, making 30 appearances for Almería, where he scored three goals and provided three assists.

The transfer also draws attention due to the unique connection of Lopy's former club. UD AlmeríaTeam·UD Almería is notably referred to as "Ronaldo's club" because Portuguese superstar Cristiano RonaldoPlayer·Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a 25% ownership stake in the Spanish outfit through his CR7 Sports Investments company in February 2026. This investment signifies Ronaldo's expanding influence in football beyond his playing career, distinguishing UD AlmeríaTeam·UD Almería from his current playing club, Al-Nassr.

Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad's recruitment strategy, exemplified by Lopy's signing, reflects a broader trend within the Saudi Pro League. Clubs are increasingly focusing on building sustainable, competitive squads by investing in younger players rather than solely pursuing established, high-profile names nearing the end of their careers. This shift aims to foster long-term success and enhance the overall quality and competitiveness of the league.

In the recently concluded 2025/26 season, Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League standings, securing a potential qualification spot for the next AFC Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League Elite play-off. They also reached the semi-finals of both the King's CupCompetition·King's Cup and the Saudi Super Cup, and advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League Elite. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr, Cristiano RonaldoPlayer·Cristiano Ronaldo's current team, celebrated their 11th league title by being crowned champions of the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League, their first since the 2018/19 season. Ronaldo himself was the league's top goalscorer with 28 goals, accumulating 30 goals across all competitions.