Questions Arise Over Al Ahly’s High-Profile Signings and Transfer Funding

With four significant additions, Al Ahly's recent winter transfer deals have created a stir in Egyptian football: Mostafa El Aash from ZED FC on loan, Ahmed Reda from Petrojet, Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki from Qatari club Al Rayyan, and Slovenian striker Nejc Gradisar from Hungary's Fehérvár.

Al Ahly also declared the return of Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet," a former player from Turkish team Trabzonspor. These acquisitions have sparked heated debates on social media and in Egyptian media sources regarding how Al Ahly is paying for such costly transactions.

The Loan Mystery

Media personality Amr Adeeb added fuel to the fire by speculating on the source of funding, suggesting that Al Ahly might have requested a loan of up to half a billion Egyptian pounds, or possibly 350 million pounds. He said he didn't understand how Al Ahly was able to raise so much money, especially while other teams, like Zamalek, were having trouble covering their players' salaries.

Trezeguet's Transfer Costs

Al Ahly’s signing of Trezeguet, reported to cost $3.5 million to Trabzonspor, along with an additional $3 million to cover the player's wages over five years, further contributed to the funding debate.

In response, former Al Ahly football company chairman, Adly El Keiy, clarified that all financial dealings are documented in the club’s official budget, which is subject to approval by the club’s general assembly and monitored by Egypt’s Central Auditing Organization and the Ministry of Sports. El Keiy also refuted rumors that the team had borrowed money from banks to buy players, emphasizing that the football division's budget is paid for entirely by its own earnings.

Additionally, he underlined how crucial it is that Financial Fair Play rules be followed in Egyptian football.