Al Ahly have reportedly completed negotiations for their first signing of the summer transfer window after reaching an agreement with Enppi for the transfer of midfielder Ali Mahmoud.
The Egyptian club has moved quickly to strengthen its squad ahead of the new season, with the deal forming part of a broader recruitment strategy designed to provide the coaching staff with additional options before the campaign begins.
Sources told WinWin that an agreement has now been reached between the two clubs, while the player has already signed his contract and is expected to undergo a medical examination before the transfer is officially confirmed.
Midfield Reinforcement Identified as Priority
Al Ahly accelerated their pursuit of a defensive midfielder following the departure of Mali international Aliou Dieng, who left the club after not renewing his contract before completing a move to Valencia in Spain.
The club identified Ali Mahmoud, currently with Enppi, as its preferred replacement and entered negotiations in an effort to secure his services during the current transfer window.
According to the report, the agreement makes Ali Mahmoud Al Ahly’s first completed signing of the summer as the club continues preparations for the upcoming season.
Negotiations Overcame Earlier Difficulties
The discussions between Al Ahly and Enppi were not straightforward, with previous transfer dealings between the clubs having created tension.
A source close to the negotiations told WinWin that relations between the two clubs had been affected by an earlier transfer pursuit involving Mustafa Shalabi.
According to the source, Al Ahly had previously attempted to sign the player, but negotiations collapsed because of what the club considered excessive financial demands, leading to his eventual move to the White Castle instead.
Despite that history, fresh discussions eventually resumed under Al Ahly’s new contracts director.
The source said:
“The first contact since that deal was made by Dr. Essam Siraj El-Din, the contracts manager at Al-Ahly, who took over the responsibility just a month ago, and he negotiated with Ayman El-Shereei, the president of Enppi Club.”
Financial Differences Delayed the Deal
Negotiations reportedly progressed before encountering another obstacle over the structure of the transfer fee.
The source explained:
“The negotiations witnessed a dispute between the two parties, and stopped for a while due to Enppi’s financial demands, as they requested a set of variables in the first two years after the completion of the deal, in addition to 30 million pounds to be paid once.”
Those financial differences temporarily brought discussions to a halt before both clubs resumed talks in an effort to find common ground.
According to the report, Al Ahly continued negotiations until a breakthrough was achieved.
The final agreement reportedly provides for the transfer fee to be paid in instalments after both parties settled all outstanding terms.
Medical Examination Expected Before Official Announcement
The report states that Ali Mahmoud has already signed the necessary contracts to join Al Ahly, although he continues to train with Enppi, which has already begun preparations for the new season.
The midfielder is expected to undergo a medical examination within the coming hours before the club formally announces his arrival.
If completed as expected, the signing will represent the first addition to Al Ahly’s squad during the current transfer window and the opening move in what could be a busy summer of recruitment.
With the new season approaching, Al Ahly’s early activity in the transfer market underlines the club’s determination to strengthen key areas of the squad following changes in personnel. The expected arrival of Ali Mahmoud would address the vacancy left by Aliou Dieng’s departure while marking the beginning of the club’s rebuilding plans for the campaign ahead.
