Al Ahly have officially confirmed the departure of Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali to Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew.
The Egyptian giants announced the move on Saturday in a brief statement, noting that the transfer came after “intense negotiations.”
Columbus Crew later revealed the forward had signed a two-year contract through 2027, with a club option for an additional year.
According to reports, the deal is valued at $7.5 million upfront, with a further $2 million in performance-related bonuses and a 15% sell-on clause.
Wessam Abou Ali, 26, exits Ahly following a controversial few weeks that saw his relationship with the club deteriorate. The forward, who had just scored a hat-trick in Al Ahly’s 4-4 draw with FC Porto at the FIFA Club World Cup, expressed his wish to leave and reportedly asked club officials to approve his transfer.
Initially, Al Ahly had ruled out letting go of Abou Ali, claiming none of the clubs that came forward met their valuation of $9.5 million.
However, the situation soured after Wessam Abou Ali skipped training in an attempt to force a move. He was excluded from the squad traveling to Tunisia for pre-season preparations as a result.
The standoff drew public criticism from fans and the media. Shortly afterward, Wessam Abou Ali issued an apology through the club’s official channels. Negotiations with Columbus resumed and ultimately led to a deal being struck.
Wessam Abou Ali joined Al Ahly in January 2024 and made an immediate impact, scoring 18 goals in just 19 matches to win the Egyptian Premier League Golden Boot in his debut half-season.
Despite injury setbacks the following season, he remained one of the club’s most reliable players, finishing with 10 goals and 3 assists in 16 league appearances.