Official indicators have revealed that Egyptian club Al Ahly managed, over the past nine months—from December to the end of July—to generate financial revenues exceeding $35 million USD, a figure considered among the highest across African and Arab clubs. This achievement reflects the club’s tight financial management and strategic investment approach in recent years, where it has adopted a clear methodology that emphasizes income diversification and the use of modern tools in resource management.
These diverse revenues stemmed from a combination of international tournaments, commercial and sports deals, all managed by the company holding the club’s football rights. Most notably, Al Ahly’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup earned the club a direct cash prize of $11.5 million, along with nearly $3 million in marketing and commercial revenues derived from the event. These included seasonal advertising contracts and short-term media partnerships signed by Al Ahly’s marketing arm during the tournament.
Additionally, the team’s run to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League brought in $1.2 million in official prize money from the African Football Confederation (CAF)—a sum that adds to the club’s storied legacy in the continent’s top-tier club competition.
Al Ahly’s involvement in the Intercontinental Cup, organized by FIFA late last year, also added $2 million to its coffers, despite the team exiting in the semi-finals after a tough match against Mexico’s Pachuca. Nevertheless, the participation itself was a new step in enhancing the club’s global presence and reputation among elite clubs worldwide.
In terms of transfers, the club’s transfer department successfully completed the sale of player Wisam Abu Ali for $7.5 million, a deal described as one of the most lucrative marketing transactions of the season, given the high return compared to the relatively modest original cost of signing the player.
The biggest revenue surprise, however, came from signing a long-term partnership with a global sportswear company to become the official kit supplier for the first team. The deal is valued at $10 million over five years, finalized just days ago after a series of intense negotiations. The agreement is expected to have significant marketing impact—not only in terms of official and sportswear kits but also in the commercial product lines targeting Al Ahly’s massive fan base.
It is worth noting that all these revenues do not yet include the club’s ongoing income from sponsorships and broadcasting rights, which form a key pillar of its annual budget. This suggests that the actual revenue figure for Al Ahly during the reported period may be even higher, especially when factoring in future expected earnings from the commercial use of club facilities, licensing deals, and external academy branches.
As for the club’s preparations for the new season, the first team resumed training this morning at Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium, after Spanish manager Jose Ribeiro granted the players a brief rest yesterday. This is part of the coaching staff’s plan to gradually increase the team’s physical and technical load ahead of the Egyptian Premier League, scheduled to kick off on August 8.
The team is expected to play two friendly matches in the coming days, one of which will be against Ceramica Cleopatra, as part of the final phase of preparations. Fans are eagerly following the formation and performance of the new signings, who are expected to make a significant technical impact in the upcoming competitions.
