Al Ahli have been left without a club president after the board of the company that runs the Saudi Pro League side formally accepted the resignation of Khaled Al-Ghamdi.
Al-Ghamdi had previously announced he was stepping down from the role after three years in charge, and his departure has now been ratified in an official statement published on Al Ahli’s website.
In the announcement, the club’s operating company confirmed the resignation of the chairman of the board, Khaled Al-Ghamdi, thanked him for his service and wished him success in the future.
Al Ahli did not reveal who would replace him or when a new president might be appointed. Local reports have suggested there is currently no intention to install a successor, amid wider plans by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to put Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad up for sale, following the model used with Al Hilal.
Club praises ‘institutional’ progress
In its statement, Al Ahli’s company said the progress achieved during Al-Ghamdi’s spell in charge reflected a “comprehensive institutional” approach at the club.
It praised the efforts he had made throughout his presidency and highlighted his role in securing “many gains” which, it said, would remain part of Al Ahli’s long-term development.
Al-Ghamdi leaves after a tenure that began in 2023 and lasted three years, during which Al Ahli enjoyed a successful run in regional and domestic competitions.
The club won the AFC Elite Champions League title in back-to-back seasons under his leadership, and also lifted the Saudi Super Cup for the first time in nine years.
Those trophies were cited by the club as the standout achievements of his period as president, alongside broader off-field restructuring.
Future role in Saudi football
While Al Ahli now enter a period of uncertainty at board level, Al-Ghamdi is expected to remain a prominent figure in the Saudi game.
He will stand as a candidate for the presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, aiming to succeed Yasser Al-Misehal, who resigned after seven years in the role.
Al-Misehal’s departure came in the aftermath of the Saudi Arabia national team’s exit from the 2026 World Cup in the group stage, a result that prompted significant scrutiny of the federation’s leadership and direction.
If elected, Al-Ghamdi would move from club administration into one of the most influential positions in Saudi football, overseeing the national teams and the domestic structure at a time of rapid change and heavy investment in the sport.
For now, however, Al Ahli remain officially without a president, with no timetable given for any appointment as the club awaits clarity on PIF’s proposed sale of several leading Saudi clubs.
