Petrojet open to Hamad Hamdan's move to Al Ahly, but with two tight conditions

Match reflections and transfer backdrop

Petrojet’s football chief Mohamed Ayman stated that the 1-1 draw with Al Ahly on Wednesday in the 12th round of the Egyptian Premier League marked a genuine turning point for the club this season. He emphasized that the stalemate, while not a win, signals Petrojet’s resurgence after a rocky start to the campaign.

In an interview aired on Thursday, Ayman explained that the draw with Al Ahly represents the beginning of Petrojet’s ascent, noting that inconsistent results earlier this season had masked the team’s potential. He added that the league’s current format has contributed to some fluctuations in form and underscored that the result was broadly satisfactory given the circumstances.

On the transfer front, Ayman disclosed there is a preliminary agreement with Zamalek to sell Hamad Hamdan in the upcoming winter window. He hinted that Zamalek’s financial situation could lead Petrojet to adjust how the transfer payment is structured, signaling a willingness to negotiate economics to reach a deal.

He made it clear that Zamalek has not yet taken concrete steps to sign Hamdan at this moment, suggesting the decision remains very much in the balance as negotiations continue behind the scenes.

Two conditions were laid out publicly for any move: first, Hamad Hamdan would need to choose to join Al Ahly of his own accord, and second, that Zamalek would not meet the financial terms Petrojet has set for the transfer. In short, the ball remains in the player’s court, and the clubs are prepared to proceed if circumstances align.

Ayman stressed that Hamdan’s own preference will ultimately decide his destination. He also stated there is no reluctance to let him depart in January should a suitable financial offer arrive, and that the club would not stand in the player’s way if his wishes point elsewhere.

Regarding Hamdan’s recent behavior, the supervisor recalled that the forward previously refused to train with Petrojet during the summer as a protest over not securing a move to Zamalek. He later returned to training, and Petrojet left the door open for a departure, though a final destination remains unresolved amid interest from Al Ahly and other clubs (notably Pyramids).

According to a source at Al Ahly speaking to Kooora, the club has not opened formal talks about Hamdan. The source praised the player but said no negotiations or official approaches have been made to date.

In the league’s latest fixture, Al Ahly and Petrojet drew 1-1 at the Military College Stadium. Ahly took the lead 11 minutes in through a Hamdan header, but Petrojet fought back. The second half saw Ahly improving, and a goal by a visiting midfielder in the 61st minute earned the draw, with Ahly missing several chances to seize the win. The result left Ahly on 22 points in second place and Petrojet on 15, in 12th.

Looking ahead, Ahly will next face Al Masry in Week 13 as part of their pursuit of the league title amid a tight title race with several clubs including Zamalek, Pyramids, and Ceramica Cleopatra.

Meanwhile, Ahly’s management has prepared for the UAE Super Cup, with the club traveling to the United Arab Emirates on November 3 for the tournament staged from November 6 to 9. The competing teams are Ahly (league champions), Pyramids (golden card), Zamalek (Egypt Cup winner), and Ceramica Cleopatra (league cup champions). The semi-finals pit Ahly against Ceramica Cleopatra in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, while Zamalek faces Pyramids at Abu Dhabi’s Unit Stadium. The final will be played on November 9 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with third place to be contested at the same venue earlier that day.

Note from a fan’s diary: If football transfer sagas were chess games, this one would be a perpetual check—everyone’s moving but nobody’s taking checkmate yet. And if patience is a virtue, this winter window will bless Hamdan with a halo because it’s clearly earned by endurance.

No strict stance from either side yet

As things stand, Hamad Hamdan’s next destination remains conditional on both player choice and the financial terms. Petrojet has indicated openness to a sale in January if the terms are right, but the process is still very much in play as clubs weigh competing interests and the player’s own preference.