Ahly s news signing Wessam Abou Ali. Photo: Abou Ali s official Instagram account
"We have finalized all agreements with IK Sirius for the signing of striker Wessam Abou Ali. He will arrive in Egypt soon to complete his medicals and be officially presented,” Ahly's Marketing & Football Contracts Director Amir Tawfik told the club TV channel.
Abou Ali has a Palestinian passport which categorizes him as a local player under the regulations of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), sparing Ahly from utilizing a foreign player slot.
Although specific financial details and contract duration remain undisclosed by Ahly, reports from Sweden indicate that Abou Ali's transfer fee to Ahly amounts to a record-breaking 2 million euros for IK Sirius.
Standing at an imposing height of 1.87 meters, the 25-year-old forward has made a significant impact during his tenure in Sweden, notching 10 goals in just 16 appearances for IK Sirius since his arrival in the summer of 2023.
Abou Ali - who represented Denmark at youth levels - had also made a good impression in Denmark, where stints at Silkeborg IF and Vendsyssel FF saw him score 25 goals in 52 appearances.
Ahly's pursuit of a top-tier striker has been a longstanding quest, driven by the team's struggle with lackluster finishing. Recent attention has been drawn to the Reds' poor conversion rate, particularly following their defeats in the Egyptian Super Cup and the African Football League, alongside a disappointing semifinal loss against Fluminense in the Club World Cup.
In an attempt to address this issue, Coach Marcel Koller recruited former Borussia Dortmund striker Anthony Modeste last summer. However, the 35-year-old French striker failed to meet expectations, managing only three goals in 13 appearances across various competitions.
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