Ahly striker Wissam Abou Ali
Abou Ali, 26, expressed remorse for his recent conduct after pushing for a move away from the Cairo-based club, citing personal pressures and emotional toll.
"I apologize to Ahly fans, President Mahmoud El-Khatib, and everyone at the club," Abou Ali said in a statement on the club’s website.
"Things escalated too quickly, and I lost control. I bear full responsibility," he added.
The striker’s apology follows mounting tensions surrounding his future. After a standout performance at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he scored a hat-trick in a dramatic 4-4 draw with FC Porto, Abou Ali made it clear he wanted to leave, urging the club to accept a transfer offer.
Linked with Gulf sides Al-Rayyan and Al-Wasl, as well as MLS outfits New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew, Abou Ali’s situation turned contentious when he missed pre-season training, citing injury. He was subsequently fined by the club and excluded from Ahly’s training camp squad in Tunisia.
The Palestinian Football Association intervened last week, issuing a statement urging Ahly to respect the player’s wishes and facilitate a move abroad, only to retract it a few hours later by removing the statement from their official channels.
Despite initially valuing the player at $10 million and declaring him not for sale, Ahly is now reportedly prepared to accept Columbus Crew’s $7.5 million bid, plus $1.5 million in performance-based add-ons and a 15 percent resale clause.
Abou Ali joined Ahly from Sweden’s IK Sirius in January 2024 and made an immediate impact, scoring 18 goals in 19 matches to win the Egyptian Premier League Golden Boot in his debut half-season. Although injuries disrupted his follow-up campaign, he still finished with 10 goals in 16 league appearances, second only to teammate Emam Ashour.
The striker’s contract with Ahly runs until 2029, but both parties now appear ready to part ways.
"Whether the deal goes through or not, I am grateful to Ahly. This club made me a star, gave me a platform, and took me to the Club World Cup," Abou Ali said.
A formal agreement with Columbus Crew is expected in the coming days.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: