Hassan Kadesh injury update: Al-Ittihad defender undergoes surgery in Finland
Al-Ittihad defender Hassan Kadesh had thigh muscle surgery scheduled in Turku, Finland, after a Gulf Cup injury, ruling him out of the 3-2 defeat to Al-Hilal. No return date given.
Al-Ittihad defender Hassan Kadesh was set to undergo surgery on a thigh muscle injury in Turku, Finland, on 9 October 2026, ruling him out of the Saudi Pro League Round 8 showdown with Al-Hilal at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh the following day, according to YSScores. The Saudi international hurt his left rectus femoris while playing for his country against Oman in the Gulf Cup on 26 September. This Hassan Kadesh injury update covers the diagnosis, the operation, the impact on Al-Ittihad and what is known about his return date.
Hassan Kadesh injury update: how it happened
Kadesh picked up the problem on international duty with Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup match against Oman on 26 September. The injury affected the rectus femoris of his left leg, one of the large muscles at the front of the thigh that is heavily involved in sprinting, jumping and striking the ball.
According to YSScores, Al-Ittihad did not rush into a decision. The defender was examined at the club and at an international medical centre, and the club consulted several doctors before concluding that surgery was the right path.
Key facts at a glance
- Player: Hassan Kadesh, Al-Ittihad and Saudi Arabia defender
- Injury: left rectus femoris (thigh muscle)
- Where it happened: Saudi Arabia v Oman, Gulf Cup, 26 September
- Treatment: thigh muscle surgery in Turku, Finland, scheduled for 9 October
- Surgeon: a Finnish specialist in muscle and tendon surgery, named in the report as Professor Lassi Leimpainen
- Return date: not given
Surgery in Finland: why Al-Ittihad chose Turku
The operation was to be carried out in Turku by a Finnish specialist in muscle and tendon surgery, identified by YSScores as Professor Lassi Leimpainen. The decision to travel abroad reflects how seriously Al-Ittihad are treating the problem. Rather than relying on conservative treatment alone, the club opted for a surgical solution after gathering several medical opinions.
Crucially, no return date was given. Recovery after muscle surgery depends on the exact procedure and on how the player responds to rehabilitation, so any timeline would have to come from the club once the operation was complete.
The Al-Hilal clash: missing Kadesh in the big one
The timing was particularly painful for Al-Ittihad. Kadesh's absence came on the eve of one of the biggest fixtures in Saudi football, the meeting with Al-Hilal at Kingdom Arena on 10 October. Al-Hilal won the match 3-2, a result that dented Al-Ittihad's challenge near the top of the table.
Kadesh was not the only concern in defence before that game. An earlier YSScores report, published on 29 September, also listed Ahmed Sharahili as a doubt for the Al-Hilal match while he completed his rehabilitation, underlining how stretched Al-Ittihad's back line was heading into the fixture.
The firepower Al-Ittihad had to contain
The scale of the task facing a depleted defence is clear from Al-Hilal's numbers. Yalla Shoot data shows the Riyadh side have scored 26 league goals in eight matches, the most in the division, while conceding only seven. Ollie Watkins has four goals and four assists in five appearances, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Gabriel Martinelli have four goals each, and Crysencio Summerville has three goals and three assists. Facing that range of threats without Kadesh, and with Sharahili's fitness in question, Al-Ittihad's back line was always going to be tested.
Impact on Al-Ittihad: where the table stands
According to Yalla Shoot's Saudi Pro League table, Al-Ittihad sit fourth with 17 points from eight matches: five wins, two draws and one defeat, with 14 goals scored and nine conceded. That single defeat is the 3-2 loss to Al-Hilal. The top of the table looks like this:
| Pos | Team | Played | Points | Goal difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Qadisiyah | 9 | 22 | +14 |
| 2 | Al-Hilal | 8 | 21 | +19 |
| 3 | Al-Nassr | 8 | 19 | +12 |
| 4 | Al-Ittihad | 8 | 17 | +5 |
| 5 | NEOM | 8 | 16 | +7 |
Al-Ittihad are four points behind Al-Hilal with a game in hand on leaders Al-Qadisiyah, who have played nine. The gap is far from decisive this early, but defensive stability will be crucial if the Jeddah club are to stay in the race. Nine goals conceded in eight games is respectable, yet Al-Hilal's record of just seven conceded shows the standard required at the very top.
Goals are not the problem
In attack, Al-Ittihad have spread their goals well. Yalla Shoot scoring data shows Youssef En-Nesyri and Steven Bergwijn on five league goals each, with Bergwijn also converting three penalties and adding an assist, while teenager George Ilenikhena has four goals and two assists. The challenge with Kadesh out is at the other end of the pitch.
Background: Al-Ittihad, champions under pressure
Al-Ittihad, based in Jeddah, won the Saudi Pro League title in 2024-25 and remain one of the country's biggest clubs. Their rivalry with Al-Hilal is one of the defining fixtures of Saudi football, often shaping the title race, which is why losing Kadesh before that clash mattered so much.
Kadesh's importance also extends to the national team. His injury in the Gulf Cup is another reminder of the physical demands placed on Saudi internationals who move between club and country throughout the season.
Hassan Kadesh return date: what's next
With surgery scheduled for 9 October and no official return date announced, Kadesh now faces a period of post-operative recovery and rehabilitation. Al-Ittihad are expected to provide updates on his progress once the medical staff have a clearer picture after the operation. Until then, the coaching staff must manage without him in a congested league programme.
Follow Al-Ittihad's upcoming fixtures, results and the live Saudi Pro League table on the Yalla Shoot matches page for the latest team news, including any update on Kadesh's comeback.