Samuel Essende is being linked with a surprise move from Bundesliga side Augsburg to Egyptian giants Ahly SC, with data-provider Transfermarkt rating the probability of a deal at 68%.
The 27-year-old centre-forward, valued at €3.50m, is reportedly on Ahly’s radar as the Cairo club assess attacking options ahead of future windows. While no agreement has been reached and no contract terms have been disclosed, Essende’s status at Augsburg – with no clear contract end-date listed – has fuelled suggestions he could become available or even approach free-agent territory if talks over his future stall.
Essende only joined Augsburg from Portuguese club FC Vizela for the 2024-25 campaign, having seen his market value rise sharply during his time in the Primeira Liga. His valuation climbed from €800,000 in late 2023 to €3.5m by June 2024, before dipping back to that figure in December 2025, hinting at fluctuating form and changing expectations in Germany.
Born in Montfermeil, France, and holding both DR Congo and French nationality, the 1.93m forward offers a physical presence through the middle and is listed as an attack-minded centre-forward who prefers his right foot. He has yet to be tied to an international side in the data provided, but his background and profile would make him a notable foreign acquisition for the Egyptian Premier League.
Essende’s career has taken him from the Paris Saint-Germain youth system through spells at KAS Eupen in Belgium, US Avranches, Pau FC and SM Caen in France, before his breakthrough in Portugal with Vizela opened the door to the Bundesliga. A move to Ahly would mark a first venture into African club football and a significant stylistic shift.
If the transfer materialises, it could give Essende a central role at one of Africa’s most successful clubs and reshape the trajectory of a career that has already spanned several of Europe’s lesser-heralded leagues.
