Wydad Athletic Club consulted former manager Hussein Ammouta before signing Jordan midfielder Nizar Al-Rashdan, with the Moroccan coach helping to facilitate the move despite reports linking the player with Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Wydad announced that the 27-year-old had joined them on a free transfer on a one-season contract, with the option to extend the agreement.
Al-Rashdan moved to the Moroccan club only six months after joining Qatar SC. The midfielder was available without a transfer fee, and Wydad’s decision to recruit him followed his performances for Jordan at the 2026 World Cup, where he scored the national team’s goal against Algeria in the group stage.
A source close to the negotiations told Kooora: “Despite media reports claiming that Egyptian club Al Ahly were interested in signing Al-Rashdan, the red giants did not enter into official negotiations with the player.”
Those reports had suggested that Ammouta, who was then coaching Al Ahly, wanted to reunite with Al-Rashdan after previously working with him in the Jordan national team.
However, the source said Portuguese agent Tadeu Martins, who represents several Jordanian players as well as coach Carlos Queiroz, presented Al-Rashdan to a number of Arab club managers through intermediaries at the player’s request. Paulo Sergio, Wydad’s Portuguese manager, was among those approached.
Wydad welcomed the possibility of signing the midfielder, particularly after his display at the World Cup. Club officials then contacted Ammouta, who had managed Wydad during two previous spells, to seek his assessment of the proposed transfer.
The source added: “Wydad officials contacted Ammouta, who coached the team in two previous spells, to seek his opinion on the deal, especially as he had also coached Al-Rashdan with the Jordan national team.”
Although Ammouta was not enthusiastic about Al-Rashdan joining Al Ahly as a replacement for Tunisia midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, he advised Wydad to complete the signing. He also attempted to narrow the gap between the two parties during the negotiations, which eventually led to the agreement.
Al-Rashdan played 14 international matches for Jordan under Ammouta between June 2023 and 2024. During that period, he was a regular presence in the centre of midfield under the Moroccan coach.
The midfielder has won 43 caps for Jordan in total, but his frequent movement between clubs reportedly caused some concern at Wydad. As a result, the Moroccan club opted for a one-year deal, with an extension possible if he delivers a strong season under Sergio.
Over the past three years, Al-Rashdan has represented several clubs. His previous teams include Jordanian side Al-Faisaly, Iraqi clubs Naft Al-Wasat and Al-Zawraa, UAE club Emirates, Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya and Qatar SC.
His move to Wydad continues an active summer recruitment drive by the Moroccan club. They have also brought in experienced players including Yahya Attiyat Allah, Yahya Jabrane and Aymen El Hassouni. All of those signings, like Al-Rashdan’s, were completed as free transfers, meaning Wydad did not pay a transfer fee for any of them.
