Deadline Day Pivot: Al Ahly’s Four-File Frenzy Under Said Abdelhafiz
28 December 2025
Winter Window: Four Files in Focus
Al Ahly enters a tense winter window, fresh from a Egypt Cup Round of 32 exit to Misr Telecom, which has sparked unrest within the club’s football faction.
The team is gearing up to face Al Mokawloon Al Arab this coming Tuesday in the Egypt Cup, with the atmosphere thick enough to be mistaken for a derby level of pressure.
Walid Salah El-Din, the football director, has imposed a media ban as he sits down with Said Abdel Hafiz, the board member responsible for the football sector, to close four pivotal files.
Winter Signings
The focus is on wrapping up winter signings quickly to restore calm and stability amid mounting fan pressure.
Al Ahly is close to signing Youssef Belamri, the left-back from Raja Casablanca, as part of a plan to add four winter signings in total.
Reports suggest the club aims to complete four winter deals overall.
Departures & External Prospects
A club source indicates there could be surprises among the departures this window, including a potential Afsha loan and Mustafa El-Ash possibly moving on.
The external-players file is also being actively considered, with talks about foreign offers to sign abroad and a careful, measured approach to those negotiations.
There are external avenues for Aliou Diang, Ahmed Nabil Koka, Ahmed Abdel Qadir, and Hussein El Shahat; the club will study these quietly while awaiting winter deals.
The potential departure of Hamza Abdul Karim is tied to the club that would pay his price, possibly linked to Barcelona’s interest.
Renewals & Contract Talks
Said Abdel Hafiz has set precise financial terms for players whose contracts expire next summer.
He reportedly informed Aliou Diang, Ahmed Nabil Koka, Ahmed Abdel Qadir, and Hussein El Shahat of the fixed figures and is awaiting their responses.
In short, the clock is ticking, and Ahly’s cards are on the table as they chase balance between ambition and budget.
Punchline 1: If deadline day were a sniper’s stage, Ahly’s clock would be loaded with four perfect targets—and a timeout for coffee breaks.
Punchline 2: In football, as in fashion, when the window opens, you either accessorize or get benched—Ahly seems determined to accessorize four times over.
