"Shobeir reveals the secret behind Beckham joining Al Ahly without any financial compensation!"
Ahmed Ramadan “Beckham” joined Al Ahly verbally without a formal financial agreement, and the club received $7.9 million from FIFA during the Club World Cup.
Ahmed Shobeir, speaking on his radio show on ON Sport FM, unveiled the behind-the-scenes details of Ahmed Ramadan “Beckham”’s transfer from Ceramica Cleopatra to Al Ahly, confirming with full “Shobeir-clarity” the details of the deal:
“Beckham got his official release from his former club immediately, was registered with Al Ahly, and traveled with the team to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup—which is a major challenge for him.”
Shobeir added humorously:
“The negotiations were 100% verbal—there wasn’t a single document mentioning financial compensation… and that’s a solid and confirmed piece of information from me.”
Shobeir quoted Mr. Mohamed Abou El-Enein, the owner of Ceramica Cleopatra, as saying:
“Go ahead and join Al Ahly, and leave the financials to us… it’s just a ‘bit of a delay’ in payments until conditions allow.”
On the financial side, Al Ahly received an initial payment of $7.9 million from the total of $11.5 million allocated by FIFA for their participation in the Club World Cup in the United States:
$9.5 million as a base reward for participating in the new tournament format.
$2 million for the two draws against Inter Miami and Porto.
Al Ahly still awaits a remaining $3.1 million, scheduled for transfer after July 13, 2025, from which U.S. taxes (between 21–30%) will be deducted. To ease the “tax burden”, the club hired a consultancy firm to submit official documentation to help reduce the withholding percentage.
On the technical side, Al Ahly exited the tournament after:
A goalless draw against Inter Miami,
A 0–2 loss to Palmeiras,
Then producing a “legendary comeback” against Porto, ending the match 4–4, thanks to the players’ determination and coach Marcel Koller’s adjustments in the second half.
According to Shobeir:
“The boys really showed up in the last 30 minutes and brought the game back.”
Upon returning from the U.S., Koller gave his players an 18-day complete break, a “necessary breather” after a grueling season—especially as they hadn’t had any rest following the domestic league. Training resumed in mid-July with an intense physical and tactical program, including video analysis of opponents and set-piece drills, all in preparation for the upcoming season in which Al Ahly aims to compete for the league, Egypt Cup, and CAF Champions League.
Behind the scenes, sources confirmed Beckham is highly enthusiastic about joining, and has consulted with some veteran stars on how to handle the pressure of playing for “the greatest fanbase in Egypt.” Meanwhile, the coaching staff is preparing a special plan to enhance his role in midfield, giving him more attacking responsibilities to add dynamism and speed to the team.
French referee Francois Letexier became the center of attention after Egypt’s clash against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, following controversial decisions and Egyptian demands for an investigation.
Cairo International Stadium hosts a major celebration for the Egyptian national football team, honoring the historic achievement achieved by the Pharaohs during their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Al Ahly is close to reaching a final agreement with Saudi club Al Riyadh for the transfer of Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”, with positive developments bringing the deal closer to completion during the summer transfer window.
Former Al Ahly star Hossam Ashour praised the opening of the club’s new branch in New Mansoura, confirming that the project represents a historic step that will help discover talents and support the club’s future.
