Emam Ashour: Al Ahly’s Egyptian midfielder linked with MLS newcomers San Diego FC

Egyptian central midfielder Emam Ashour of Al Ahly is being linked with a move to MLS expansion side San Diego FC, with the 28-year-old’s future in Cairo increasingly under scrutiny.

Transfermarkt data lists Ashour, who plays primarily as a central midfielder and wears the No 22 shirt for Al Ahly, as having no recorded contract end date with the Egyptian Premier League champions, leaving open the possibility that he could run down his deal and become a free agent. The reported probability of the transfer remains unclear, marked simply as “?”, but San Diego are understood to be monitoring his situation closely.

Ashour, valued at €4.00m, would represent a relatively low-risk acquisition for San Diego as they build their inaugural MLS squad. Born on 20 February 1998 in El Senbellawein, the right‑footed midfielder stands at 1.80m and has established himself as a versatile option in the middle of the park for Al Ahly in recent campaigns.

Recent performances with the African giants have kept him in the shop window. In Al Ahly’s latest Egyptian Premier League outing, a high‑stakes clash against Zamalek in June 2026 that finished in a narrow defeat, Ashour featured in central midfield, contributing energetically in and out of possession despite his side’s reverse. His ability to link play and press from midfield has been one of the hallmarks of his time with the club.

Having emerged in Egypt before earning his move to Al Ahly, Ashour has developed a profile that now appeals beyond Africa. With MLS continuing to attract established players from overseas, a switch to San Diego could offer the Egyptian an opportunity to expand his reputation on a new continent and, if the move materialises, shape the next peak of his career in North America.