Genoa negotiates loan for Al‑Ittihad full‑back Mario Mitaj

Italian Serie A club Genoa have entered talks with Saudi Pro League champions Al‑Ittihad to acquire 23‑year‑old Albanian left‑back Mario Mitaj on a season‑long loan, with an option to make the move permanent. The negotiations are ongoing in the current summer transfer window, and no financial details have been disclosed.

Mitaj joined Al‑Ittihad from Lokomotiv Moscow in the summer of 2024, quickly becoming a regular starter. He has made 58 appearances for the Jeddah club, scoring two goals and providing six assists, and helped them win a domestic double – the Saudi Pro League title and the King’s Cup – in the season before last. The defender also holds 32 caps for the Albania national team. A move to Genoa would mark his return to European football, while Al‑Ittihad would need to replace a key member of their squad if the loan proceeds.

Genoa’s interest is driven by a need to strengthen their defensive options, though the club faces financial constraints given the higher valuation standards of the Saudi league.