Genoa have opened negotiations with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad to sign Albanian left-back Mario Mitaj, with a loan deal and option to buy on the table, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.
Italian move edging closer
Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya reports that Genoa have entered formal talks with Al-Ittihad over a season-long loan for the 23-year-old defender, with a clause that would allow the Serie A club to make the transfer permanent.
Both clubs are understood to be working to reach a final agreement during the current summer transfer window so the deal can be completed in time for the new season.
If concluded, the move would see Mitaj swap the Saudi Pro League for Italy’s top flight less than two years after arriving in Jeddah.
Key figure at Al-Ittihad
Mitaj joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2024 from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow and quickly established himself as a regular starter.
The Albania international has made 58 appearances for the club since his arrival, scoring two goals and providing six assists.
During his time in Saudi Arabia he has played under two high-profile European coaches – Frenchman Laurent Blanc and Portuguese manager Sergio Conceicao – and became a pivotal part of the team’s defensive structure.
Mitaj also contributed significantly to one of the most successful seasons in Al-Ittihad’s modern history, helping the club secure a domestic double in the season before last by winning both the Saudi Pro League, known as the Roshn League, and the King’s Cup.
Loan with option to buy
Genoa’s proposal is believed to centre on a one-year loan, with an option – rather than an obligation – to buy the player at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Such a structure would allow the Italian club to assess Mitaj’s adaptation to Serie A while keeping a permanent transfer within reach if he impresses.
For Al-Ittihad, a loan move with a purchase option provides flexibility: they would retain long-term control of the player’s contract in the short term, while potentially securing a future transfer fee if Genoa decide to exercise the option.
Rising European profile
Mitaj’s prospective move reflects the growing fluidity between the Saudi Pro League and Europe’s major competitions, with players increasingly moving in both directions.
The defender, who has already experienced top-flight football in Russia and Saudi Arabia, would be adding a third major European league to his CV if the deal goes through.
At 23, he is regarded as having significant development potential, and his combination of defensive discipline and attacking contribution from full-back is thought to be part of what has attracted Genoa.
While neither club has officially confirmed the talks, the negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage, with both sides aiming to finalise terms before the close of the summer window.
