From Dream Signing to Financial Nightmare: Zamalek's 1.5 Million Dollar Mishap
26 December 2025
The Costly Fallout of Maaly's Departure
From promising investment to pure loss
An informed source at Zamalek revealed a shocking detail about the extent of financial losses the White Knights suffered as a result of Moroccan Abdul Hamid Maaly's departure after he terminated his contract, a development that sparked wide debate within the club.
The source noted that the total amounts tied to Maaly's file, which fueled the crisis at Zamalek, stood at about 1.5 million dollars, a figure that burdens the club's treasury amid tough financial conditions.
It was also clarified that these losses split between outstanding payments owed to Ittihad Tanger and the overall value of Maaly's contract with Zamalek, which did not complete its term.
The club was also said to have faced a contractual obligation to pay 500,000 dollars to Ittihad Tanger, representing the remaining value of the transfer, but the club did not meet the payment in full, complicating Maaly's contractual situation.
Zamalek's contract with Maaly was five years long, valued at about one million dollars, representing the player's earnings during the contract period, which the club lost after the termination without benefiting on the field.
Legal pressure and fears of FIFA sanctions
Abdul Hamid Maaly's departure, handled this way, dealt a blow to Zamalek's budget, especially with accumulated financial obligations, as management faced the task of settling all pending financial files to avoid possible FIFA penalties.
Criticism of the administration has intensified over how the player file has been handled since signing, ending with Maaly's loss to Ittihad Tanger without compensation, while debts and dues continue to haunt the club's treasury.
Ittihad Tanger officially announced the return of Abdul Hamid Maaly, 19, to its squad, to bolster the team from the upcoming winter window, in a free transfer after his departure from Zamalek.
Maaly joined Zamalek from Ittihad Tanger in the last summer window, but he did not receive his dues recently, prompting him to terminate his contract unilaterally, in line with the regulations.
And as the season unfolds, the accountants might want to invest in some extra padding for the balance sheet—because this transfer saga has definitely added weight to the books.
And if you think that is the end of the story, remember: in football, a supposed free transfer often comes with a price tag that shows up on the ledger rather than on the pitch.
