Official: Genoa sign Mitaj from Al-Ittihad in agreement worth up to €6.5m | OneFootball

Genoa have officially signed defender Albania international Mario Mitaj on loan from Al-Ittihad with an option to buy at the end of the season for a reported total fee of €6.5m.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Genoa will pay €2m to Al-Ittihad for the one-season loan, then have the opportunity to make it permanent in June 2026 for a further €4.5m.

It is a big investment for the left-back, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday next week.

Mitaj ready for Genoa adventure

Mario Mitaj poses with Genoa director of football Diego Lopez (genoacfc.it)

“Arriving at a club like Genoa and in Serie A was an objective for me,” Mitaj told the club website.

“I am highly-motivated to show what I can do.”

He will wear the Number 2 jersey for the Grifone this season.

There had also been interest from Roma within Serie A, as well as a potential return to his old club AEK Athens in Greece, but Genoa managed to secure his signature.

Mitaj was already in the Italian city today and underwent his medical tests this afternoon, putting pen to paper on the contract this evening.

Despite his young age, he already has 32 senior caps for Albania and joined Al-Ittihad from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2024.

“Mario is a player who combines two important characteristics, namely technical quality to build out from the back, and the mental solidity required to play for Genoa,” Chief of Football Diego Lopez told the club website.