Al-Ittihad of Alexandria Shuts the Door on Ahmed Al-Jefali Deal
Al-Ittihad of Alexandria declines to sign Ahmed Al-Jefali due to his injuries and high salary demands.
In a new development surrounding transfer talks, informed sources have revealed the reasons behind the collapse of negotiations between Zamalek’s Tunisian winger Ahmed Al-Jefali and Al-Ittihad of Alexandria. Zamalek is currently seeking to offload several foreign players during the summer transfer window as part of a squad overhaul ahead of the new season.
According to reports, Al-Ittihad of Alexandria had initiated preliminary discussions about signing Al-Jefali on loan. However, talks were short-lived as the club’s management ultimately decided to close the file entirely, citing both technical and financial concerns.
Sources confirmed that head coach Ahmed Sami expressed serious reservations about bringing in the player, noting Al-Jefali's recurring injuries since joining Zamalek. The coach questioned the player's physical readiness and overall fitness, stressing that the team needs fully fit players who can handle the demands of the upcoming season.
On the financial side, Al-Ittihad’s management objected to the player's annual salary, which is reportedly around $300,000—a figure that exceeds the club’s wage cap. Additionally, registering Al-Jefali as a foreign player would limit the club’s ability to pursue other, more tactically suitable international signings.
It’s worth noting that Al-Jefali received limited playing time with Zamalek last season due to persistent injuries, which kept him out of the coach’s plans for long stretches. Zamalek, in turn, has been seeking ways to monetize the player—either through a direct sale or a swap deal—as he no longer figures into the plans of the new head coach.
With Zamalek's foreign player list already congested, football director John Edward is reportedly evaluating various options to part ways with high-cost contracts that have underperformed, to make room for new impactful additions for both domestic and continental competitions.
As it stands, Al-Jefali’s future hangs in the balance. With local clubs reluctant to meet his current terms and his exclusion from the starting lineup at Zamalek, the winger is left with two choices: lower his demands in hopes of finding a new opportunity, or wait for an overseas offer that could reignite his fading career.
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