Ahly's Egyptian winger Ahmed El-Sheikh joined Saudi side Al-Ettifaq on a six-month loan deal, bringing the number of Egyptian players in the Arab Gulf country to eight, the Cairo giants announced on Wednesday.

El-Sheikh joined Ahly from Egyptian outfit Maqassa in the summer of 2015 but was loaned to Maqassa the following summer after failing to establish himself with the Red Devils.

The 25-year-old made an instant impact with Maqassa last season, finishing as the competition's top scorer with 17 goals to help the team finish as runners-up behind his parent club Ahly.

Following his successful spell with Maqassa, El-Sheikh returned to Ahly last summer but was hardly given playing time, making only nine appearances that included just three starts, scoring twice.

Al-Ettifaq lie third from bottom in the Saudi league with 14 points.

El-Sheikh becomes the eighth Egyptian player in the Saudi league after Mostafa Fathi, Essam El-Hadary and Emad Meteb (Al-Taawon), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Ahli Jeddah), Mahmoud Kahraba (Ittihad Jeddah), Mahmoud Shikabala (Al-Raed) and former Ahly skipper Hossam Ghaly (Nasr).