Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane has brought his brief spell with Egyptian giants Al Ahly to an end after completing a move to Qatar’s Al Shamal during the summer transfer window.
The Tunisia midfielder leaves the Cairo club after just one season, having joined from Hungary’s Ferencváros in July 2025 following years of speculation linking him with a move to Al Ahly.
His departure comes after the 26-year-old pushed for a transfer to the Qatari side, ending a campaign that began with considerable promise but ultimately failed to meet the expectations held by supporters or the player himself.
Although Ben Romdhane arrived in Egypt with a strong reputation and was viewed as a significant addition to Al Ahly’s midfield, his performances became inconsistent as the season progressed.
After making an encouraging impression early in his time at the club, the midfielder found it increasingly difficult to secure a regular place in the starting line-up.
His fluctuating form eventually resulted in him losing his place in the team on several occasions, while it also contributed to his omission from Tunisia’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The strongest period of Ben Romdhane’s Al Ahly career came during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Despite having only recently joined the club and still adapting to his new surroundings, he was regarded by many supporters and analysts as one of Al Ahly’s standout performers during the tournament.
He played a key role in Al Ahly’s goalless draw against Inter Miami before producing one of the highlights of his stay by scoring against Portugal’s Porto in an entertaining 4-4 draw.
Those performances appeared to signal a promising future in Cairo, but the momentum proved difficult to maintain over the course of the domestic campaign.
Across all competitions, Ben Romdhane made 36 appearances for Al Ahly, playing a total of 2,053 minutes.
During that time, he contributed to six goals, scoring twice and providing four assists.
In the Egyptian Premier League, he featured in 22 matches, scoring once and registering two assists.
His continental record included eight appearances in the CAF Champions League, where he supplied two assists but was unable to score.
The midfielder also represented Al Ahly in two Egyptian Super Cup matches.
Although he did not register a goal or an assist in either appearance, he was part of the squad that lifted the trophy after Al Ahly defeated rivals Zamalek in the final.
That success proved to be the only title Ben Romdhane won during his short stay with the club.
His overall involvement reflected the changing nature of his role throughout the season.
Ben Romdhane started 23 matches and made a further 10 appearances from the bench.
However, he did not start a single match during the league championship stage, highlighting how his standing within the squad had changed by the closing stages of the campaign.
His exit therefore concludes a move that had generated considerable excitement before his arrival but ultimately delivered mixed results.
After years of transfer speculation eventually ended with his signing in 2025, Ben Romdhane’s time at Al Ahly lasted only one season before another move took him to Qatar.
While his Club World Cup displays demonstrated the quality that persuaded Al Ahly to pursue him, inconsistency over the remainder of the season meant he was unable to establish himself as a central figure in the team.
His transfer to Al Shamal now offers the midfielder a fresh opportunity, while bringing to a close a brief chapter in which he made 36 appearances, contributed six goals, won one trophy and experienced both the highs and disappointments of life at one of Africa’s biggest football clubs.
