FIFA have extended Zamalek’s transfer ban until January 2026 due to late wages owed to former Moroccan striker Khalid Boutaib.
Boutaib, currently playing for French Ligue 2 side Pau FC, signed for Zamalek in January 2019 for €1.50m before leaving on a free just one year later.
During his time in Cairo, Boutaib scored five goals in 24 games and was part of the Zamalek team that won the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup.
Following his departure, Boutaib filed a case to FIFA against Zamalek requiring the payment of his late fees, which had been pending for four years.
The decision of the Swiss court obligated Zamalek to pay €2.4 million, with 1.9 million as the initial fine and the rest as late fines, leading to Zamalek’s registration being suspended.
To make matters worse, FIFA have announced on Monday morning that the transfer ban will run throughout the next three transfer periods, meaning it will only be uplifted in January 2026 or whenever the club reaches a settlement with Boutaib.
The club announced they will seek to resolve the situation before the start of the summer transfer period in July or August.
Zamalek becomes the fourth current Egyptian club to have their registration banned alongside Misr El-Makkasa, Harras El-Hodood, and Eastern Company.