Al Ahly have decided not to consider any further offers from foreign clubs for their first-team players, with the Egyptian giants prioritising squad stability ahead of the new league season.
The club’s decision comes with only four days remaining before the start of the new campaign. Al Ahly officials have confirmed that genuine offers were recently received for midfielder Emam Ashour and goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, but both arrived after the deadline set by the club for considering potential departures.
An Al Ahly official said the club’s position had already been communicated clearly and formally. The management believes the short period remaining before the season begins makes it impossible to adequately replace important members of the squad if they are allowed to leave.
The club’s stance applies regardless of how an offer reaches its officials, including formal approaches from overseas clubs or proposals communicated through agents.
“Al-Ahly’s decision is clear and has been officially announced: there is no room for discussing any offers concerning the team’s players, whether these offers are submitted officially to the club or through player agents.”
The deadline for considering offers was set before Al Ahly travelled to Spain for their pre-season training camp. According to the club official, players were informed of the policy in advance, meaning the latest approaches fall outside the period in which the management was prepared to negotiate.
Al Ahly prioritise squad stability
Ashour has reportedly attracted two offers, including one from Turkish club Konyaspor. Shobeir has also received two offers, with the latest coming from Italian side Como.
There has also been an offer concerning defender Yasser Ibrahim, although Al Ahly’s position remains unchanged regarding all approaches for players at this stage of the season.
The club considers the timing of the approaches particularly important. With the league campaign about to begin, the management believes losing a first-team player now could create a significant gap that cannot be filled before competitive football gets under way.
“Initially, there are four days left until the start of the league competition, and if any player is allowed to leave, he will not be replaced, which could cause a severe crisis in an exceptional season in which we seek to return to the podiums with the aim of participating in the next edition of the African Champions League. Secondly, Al-Ahly is not an investment club that seeks only to obtain money, but the basis is championships, and the third reason is that if any of these players are allowed to leave, then others will ask for the same approval, and the team will fall apart.”
The comments underline Al Ahly’s focus on competing for trophies rather than using player sales as a primary source of revenue.
The club also does not want a decision to allow one player to leave to create expectations among other members of the squad that similar requests could be approved. The management believes that could undermine the balance of the team at a critical point in the campaign.
Club says it supports players’ ambitions
Despite the firm decision, Al Ahly maintain that they have not opposed their players seeking opportunities abroad.
The club previously opened a window during which players could present offers and discuss potential moves. That period was intended to give the management enough time to assess proposals and, where necessary, plan for replacements.
“Al-Ahly does not stand in the way of any player’s future, and that is why we opened the door for a specific period to discuss any offer that is suitable for the club and the player. But it is not logical that we are five days away from the start of the season, and then we talk about the possibility of a player from the main body of the team leaving. At this stage we will not have enough time to replace him, and therefore the matter is not about rejecting the principle of professionalism, but rather about protecting the stability of the team.”
The football management is meanwhile working on contracts for several players, with discussions under way over renewals, extensions and amendments.
Right-back Mohamed Hany is among those involved in negotiations, with the club indicating that talks with him are progressing and that further developments are expected soon.
However, the position on new foreign offers is described as decisive. Even the size of the proposal for Shobeir is not expected to change the club’s decision.
The Al Ahly official acknowledged that the offer for the goalkeeper is substantial but insisted that the circumstances make his departure difficult at this stage.
With the new league campaign just days away, Al Ahly’s immediate priority is therefore to preserve the squad they have assembled and begin the season without losing key players.
