Sherif, who scored 58 goals in 151 appearances during his first spell with Ahly, penned a five-year deal after meeting club president Mahmoud El-Khatib and new Spanish coach Jose Riveiro, the player told Ahly’s television channel.
“I received offers from Turkey, Qatar and Egypt,” Sherif said. “I delayed my decision because I was hoping to return to Ahly. I’m back to break my own records.”
The forward becomes Ahly’s sixth signing of the close season, joining Egypt winger Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”, Tunisia midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, goalkeeper Mohamed Seha, defender Ahmed Ramadan, and Aston Villa ex Mahmoud Trezeguet.
Sherif left Ahly in 2023 for Al-Khaleej in a deal worth about US$1.8 million. He scored nine times in 59 matches for the Saudi club but missed part of last season through injury.
Sherif said El-Khatib had reassured him the club had always intended to bring him back. “He told me: ‘We were determined to sign you, we were just busy over the past weeks.’”
Ahly, who kick off their Egyptian Premier League campaign in September, will play the African Football League and defend their continental title later this year. Sherif said competition for a starting place did not deter him.
“No player is guaranteed anything here,” he said. “I have to train hard and prove myself again.”
Sherif has been capped 19 times by Egypt and was the league’s top scorer in the 2020-21 season with 21 goals. In 2021 he also finished joint-top scorer in the CAF Champions League with six goals and helped Ahly claim back-to-back FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals.
He previously played for Wadi Degla and ENPPI before joining Ahly in 2018.
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