Mustafa Shobeir ends Al Ahly contract-clause speculation with deal until 2029

Mustafa Shobeir has dismissed reports of a dispute with Al Ahly over a release clause after agreeing a contract extension with the Egyptian club until the summer of 2029.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper said negotiations had not been held up by a disagreement between his representatives and Al Ahly, despite suggestions that the club had rejected a request for a buyout clause.

“Some people thought that an agent had asked for a release clause, that Al Ahly had not agreed to it and that this was delaying the renewal. That had no basis in reality,” Shobeir said on Al Ahly TV.

Shobeir explained that the club had initially accepted the idea of including such a clause, but that the two sides had differed over the length of the contract.

“Al Ahly initially agreed to include a release clause, and we only disagreed over the duration of the contract. But the club changed its decision, I respected that and renewed my contract. I am staying at my home, thank God,” he added.

According to Shobeir, a club official later contacted him to explain why Al Ahly no longer considered a release clause appropriate.

“One of the club officials contacted me and explained that including a release clause would not be the right decision or suitable for the club’s policy at the moment. I understood that and renewed my contract without a release clause,” he said.

The goalkeeper also addressed the significance of his continued association with the club, saying: “The Shobeir family name in general is connected with Al Ahly. Even if there was any misunderstanding because of inaccurate reports being circulated, I became the national team goalkeeper thanks to God and then Al Ahly.”

Shobeir is understood to have secured an annual salary of 25m Egyptian pounds under the new agreement. The contract also includes incentives worth 10m Egyptian pounds linked to winning trophies with Al Ahly.

The goalkeeper will receive 70% of the value of any advertising deal he brings to the club, with Al Ahly receiving the remaining 30%. Such arrangements will apply only when the advertisement does not conflict with the club’s existing sponsors.

The renewal makes Shobeir the fourth player to extend his Al Ahly contract in the recent period, following Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia and Omar Sayed Moawad.

Shobeir has made 72 appearances for Al Ahly, keeping 39 clean sheets and conceding 46 goals. His performances have helped establish him as an important figure for both club and country.

He also led Egypt to qualification for the last 16 of the World Cup. Egypt were eliminated by Argentina after a 3-2 defeat.

Shobeir produced notable performances during that campaign, saving two penalties. He denied Mehdi Taremi of Iran in the group stage before also stopping a spot-kick from Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the last-16 match.