Mohamed Sherif Joins Iraqi Club Al-Zawraa on Season-Long Loan from Al Ahly

Mohamed Sherif has arrived in Iraq to begin training with Al-Zawraa after completing a season-long loan move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

The Iraqi club announced the signing of the striker, whose destination changed from Al-Shorta to Al-Zawraa in the final stages of the transfer process.

The move marks Sherif’s second spell in Arab football outside Egypt. He previously spent two seasons with Saudi Arabian side Al-Khaleej before returning to Al Ahly at the start of last season.

Al-Zawraa begin their Iraqi Premier League campaign on Saturday, 15 August, against Al-Minaa, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 local time.

The club will also compete in the Gulf Champions League next season after finishing fourth in the Iraqi league last term.

Sherif remains under contract with Al Ahly until the summer of 2030. He made 20 appearances for the Cairo club last season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Al Ahly have added three forwards to their squad this summer: Morocco’s Soufiane Benjedida, Algeria’s Monsef Bakrar and Oktay Abdullah of ENPPI.

Egyptian players in Iraq

Sherif will be the second Egyptian player competing in the Iraqi league this season, joining Marwan Hamdy of Al-Karma.

Several Egyptian players have previously featured in Iraq, including Reda El-Weshi with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Shaaban Mustafa with Al-Talaba, Mohamed Shawky with Al-Naft, Mostafa Galal with Al-Talaba, Ahmed Fattouh “Bogy” with Al-Talaba, Saleh Gomaa with Al-Karkh, Mohamed Atwa with Amanat Baghdad and Ahmed Abdelkader with Al-Karma.

Egyptian coaches Emad El-Nahas, Hossam El-Badry, Haitham Shaaban and Mohamed Youssef have also managed clubs in the Iraqi league.

Momen Soliman is the most successful Egyptian coach in Iraqi football, having won seven trophies. He currently leads Al-Karma.

Soliman has won the Iraqi league three times, making him the competition’s second-most decorated coach behind Ayyoub Odisho, who has four titles.