Hamed Hamdan on the Move: Al Ahly, Zamalek, and a January Transfer Tug-of-War

Transfer Sparks and Strategic Stakes

Mohamed Ayman, the head of football for Petrojet, revealed the latest developments in the Hamid Hamdan transfer file, the club’s midfielder, ahead of the upcoming winter window, noting the renewed and intense battle among Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids for the player.

He explained that some public chatter suggested Hamdan desires a move to Zamalek and is determined about it, but that was the situation in the previous summer window when the White Club’s offer stood out locally and abroad, leaving the player with limited choices.

He added that the current landscape has shifted entirely: there are both domestic and international offers to sign Hamdan, and, crucially, his wishes will be respected along with the financial upside and benefits to Petrojet.

He clarified that Al Ahly has not formally requested to sign the player yet, but he believes Al Ahly contacted Hamdan’s agent, Samir Al-Hawi, to gauge the player’s appetite for donning the red shirt.

Ayman also stressed that negotiations with Zamalek have been paused since the last summer window.

He noted that Petrojet remains committed to a potential January move to Zamalek if the right offer lands, but the talks are “stuck in neutral,” and if an official offer from Al Ahly comes through while Zamalek delays, the club will push to maximize its financial return.

Strong rivalry

Hamdan, a Palestinian-born midfielder, has areas of interest from Al Ahly, Zamalek, Pyramids, and the Bank of Egypt as the winter window approaches.

A Petrojet source confirmed that the Bank of Egypt also contacted them to inquire about a potential winter signing for Hamdan.

Officials described Hamdan as a standout with a fighting spirit and a burning passion to win trophies, with the added benefit of local registration eligibility for the club that signs him.

It was stressed that all interested clubs have approached Hamdan and his agent; talks with Petrojet are expected to commence next month to settle a possible move, including a reported Qatari bid, though Hamdan’s preference remains to join a major Egyptian club.

Zamalek’s stance

A Zamalek source said the club is trying to assemble a 25 million Egyptian pounds package that had previously been agreed upon with Petrojet for Hamdan’s transfer.

The source added that Zamalek is facing a severe financial crunch; otherwise, Hamdan would likely have been a player for the White Castle since the summer.

Totten (Psyche) of negotiations

Amr Basyouni, the head of contracts at Pyramids, stated that he cannot conclusively declare their stance on Hamdan for January and that no formal talks have started yet, though the player once trained with Pyramids’ youth and was let go due to a Palestinian registration rule at the time.

He added that if the coach asks for him, negotiations would begin; any player who adds value to the squad would certainly be pursued.

AHly as a back-up option

Al Ahly views Hamdan as a fallback option, a potential supplementary piece should other targets falter.

One Petrojet source explained there are two reasons for Ahly’s inquiry beyond his on-pitch value: he would count as a local player and would serve as a backup to Mali’s Ayo Diang (Allu Diang), should he depart in the winter window.

Cup draw notes

Separately, at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters, the draw for the Round of 32 of the 2025-2026 Egypt Cup took place with formal representation from clubs, federation officials, and a robust media presence highlighting the competition’s historical prestige.

The draw was conducted in a ceremonial setting, reflecting the federation’s commitment to giving the oldest cup in Egyptian football a deserved spotlight, even as match dates for the Round of 32 are still under review by the competitions committee.

The full Round of 32 fixtures announced included:
- Al Ahly vs. Misr Lel Makkasa
- Pharco vs. Tabeer Banisuweyf
- Bank Al Ahly vs. Bore Foud
- Enppi vs. El Mokawloon
- Petrojet vs. Wadi Degla
- Modern S port vs. Al Qanah
- Al Gouna vs. Botros Asyut
- Pyramids vs. Masr
- Zamalek vs. Municipality of El-Mahalla
- Ceramica Cleopatra vs. Abu Qir Fertilizers
- Talae’ Al-Šuha vs. Seka Al-Hadid
- Al Ittihad Alexandria vs. Kahraba Ismailia
- Haras El Hodoud vs. Ismaily
- Smouha vs. Ghazl El-Mahalla
- Zed FC vs. ALO Egypt
- Al-Masry vs. Daqran