Zamalek re-signed Ibrahim Salah on a free transfer they seek to bolster their defensive options in a porous midfield that was repeatedly exposed by opponents this season, the club announced late Thursday.

Salah, a combative and tough-tackling defensive midfielder, penned a three-year deal with the Cairo giants after ending a brief one-year spell at Saudi Arabia’s modest side Al Orouba.

The 27-year-old, who left Zamalek last summer due to their persistent financial problems, is the first acquisition of new chairman Mortada Mansour, an outspoken lawyer who vowed to help the White Knights end their 10-year Egyptian Premier League drought.

His arrival will come as a major boost to Zamalek who have struggled to fill in for him since his departure.

Their attack-minded midfield usually finds it difficult to contain opposing forwards.

In Zamalek’s previous league game against Group B leaders Petrojet, Nour El-Sayed and Ahmed Tawfik failed to close down spaces as the hosts launched a wave of successful counter attacks to claim a 4-2 victory in an action-packed game that left Zamalek uncertain of a top-two finish.

Zamalek lie fourth with 25 points from 15 matches, two behind second-placed Ismaily, who also played 15, and seven adrift of Petrojet who played two games more.

The top two in each group will qualify for a final mini-league phase to determine the league winner.

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