Ali's current-season form is up 53% on last season (Season 15→23), while his Rating eased 43→39. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 49).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Al-Ettifaq · 7th	32	1	0	6.87	39	23
2024/25	Al-Ettifaq · 7th	20	0	0	6.94	43	15
2024/25	Al-Nassr	3	0	0	6.55	—	—
2023/24	Al-FatehLoan · 7th	30	0	6	7.03	55	49
2023/24	Al-Nassr	3	0	3	7.03	—	—
2022/23	Al Taee · 9th	27	2	0	6.77	53	29
2021/22	Al TaeeLoan · 9th	11	2	1	6.96	51	20
2021/22	Al-Nassr	3	0	0	6.7	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 5 earlier seasons and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

Saudi Arabia · international

Side	Apps	G
Saudi Arabia	16	0
Saudi Arabia U23	6	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerCentral midfielder

Mukhtar Ali is a 28-year-old central midfielder at Al-Ettifaq, rated 39 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 158th of 318 on scout potential in the Pro League. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter this season (63.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.13 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Ali.

Judged on this season alone, Ali graded 23 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 31st of 65 of the 65 central midfielders in the Pro League, on 1 goal, 0 assists and 3.13 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 15 → 23). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 39, 35th of 65 of the 65 central midfielders in the Pro League. At 28 Ali is in his prime years, and a market index of 6.9 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2023/244 clubs

Current potential35th of 65 central midfielders · Pro League Current season31st of 65 central midfielders · Pro League31st-best central midfielder in the Pro League158th in the Pro League · potential35th-highest potential central midfielder in the Pro League

Ratingi

35th of 65 central midfielders

22.6

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

63.9%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.13

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Al-Ettifaq finished 7th of 18 · a mid-table side

3.13

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.13 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 32 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 63.9% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 39, Ali carries the 35th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Pro League of 65. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.13 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %63.9%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.046

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.046

Defensive actions / 903.13

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Shot conversion %20

Shot accuracy %35.7

Pass accuracy %88

Dribble success %46.2

Cards / 900.184

Foul involvement / 902.302

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~12), then tapers with age. At 28, Ali sits on 6.9, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Ali's projected Rating — 39 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Pro League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Shots on target5

Shots14

Passing

Assists0

Chances created16

Passes1,215

Pass accuracy88%

Possession

Successful dribbles6

Dribble success46.2%

Duels won81

Duels won %53.3%

Fouls won23

Defending

Tackles42

Interceptions22

Blocks4

Fouls committed27

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

Al-Ettifaq2024/25 – now

Al-Nassr(back from loan)2024/25 – 2024/25

Al-Fateh(on loan)2023/24 – 2024/25

Al-Nassr2023/24 – 2023/24Free

Al Taee(on loan)2021/22 – 2023/24

Al-Nassr2019/20 – 2021/22

Vitesseuntil 2019/20

Chelsea(back from loan)2017/18 – 2019/20

Vitesse2017/18 – 2017/18

Vitesse(on loan)2016/17 – 2017/18

Chelseauntil 2016/17

About Mukhtar Ali

Mukhtar Abdullah Ali Shaikh is a 28-year-old central midfielder who plays for Al-Ettifaq, born on October 30, 1997 in Muqdisho, standing 187 cm tall. He is from Saudi Arabia. Al-Ettifaq currently sit 7th of 18 in the Pro League.

This season

In the current season, Mukhtar Ali has made 32 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 1,955 minutes, averaging a 6.82 match rating over his last 9 rated games, with 4 yellow cards.

When Mukhtar Ali plays, Al-Ettifaq's record this season is 15W-8D-10L — and his match ratings average 6.92 at home against 6.82 on the road.

Recent matches

May 21, 2026: 1-1 draw away at NEOM (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
May 14, 2026: 1-3 loss at home vs Al-Ittihad FC (86 minutes, 6.9 rating)
May 9, 2026: 5-0 win away at Al Khaleej Saihat (12 minutes, 6.6 rating)
May 4, 2026: 0-0 draw at home vs Al Najma (20 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 30, 2026: 3-1 win away at Al Okhdood (29 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 15, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Al-Nassr (1 minutes)
April 5, 2026: 3-2 win at home vs Al-Qadisiyah FC (19 minutes, 6.5 rating)
March 13, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Al-Fayha (62 minutes, 6.9 rating)
March 7, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Al Shabab (90 minutes, 7 rating)
February 27, 2026: 1-3 loss away at Al-Hazm (90 minutes, 7 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Mukhtar Ali at 39 with a Season form score of 22.6, ranking 158th of 318 central midfielders in the Pro League. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 10 career titles — among them the Arab Club Champions Cup and the Super Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, Mukhtar Ali has totalled 195 club appearances with 8 goals and 12 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 32 appearances for Al-Ettifaq.

Mukhtar Ali's career has also included time at Al-Nassr, Al-Fateh, Al Taee, Vitesse and Chelsea.

On the international stage, Mukhtar Ali has represented Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia U23 — 22 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Al-Ettifaq finished 7th of 18 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points