Al Ahli Tripoli set to sign Mohamed Tougai in $10.34m deal

Al Ahli Tripoli are set to announce the signing of Algerian defender Mohamed Tougai from Tunisian giants Espérance de Tunis in a deal reportedly worth a total of $10.34m.

The Libyan club have moved quickly to secure the highly rated centre-back, with the transfer expected to be formally announced once the final procedures are completed. Reports of the agreement emerged on Thursday, with the financial terms highlighting the scale of Al Ahli Tripoli’s latest recruitment drive.

Tougai is reportedly set to earn $3.7m per season on a two-year contract, taking his guaranteed salary over the duration of the agreement to $7.4m.

In addition to the player’s wages, Al Ahli Tripoli are expected to pay Espérance $2m as the transfer fee for the 26-year-old defender.

A further $940,000 has reportedly been allocated as commissions connected to the transfer. The amount is understood to be shared between Tougai’s brother, who is involved as his agent, and a Libyan intermediary who helped facilitate the move.

Taken together, the salary, transfer fee and reported commissions bring the overall financial package to approximately $10.34m.

Tougai, who plays primarily as a centre-back, has been an important figure for Espérance since joining the Tunisian club from NA Hussein Dey. He has also established himself at international level with Algeria.

The defender’s move would represent another major investment by Al Ahli Tripoli as the Libyan club seek to strengthen their squad and maintain their position among the country’s leading sides.

Al Ahli Tripoli, based in the Libyan capital, are one of the country’s most successful clubs, with a long record of domestic success and previous participation in CAF competitions.

For Espérance, Tougai’s departure would bring an end to a spell in which the Algerian defender developed into a key member of their defence. His move to Libya would also underline the growing financial power of clubs looking to attract established North African talent.

The reported figures make the transfer one of the most eye-catching deals involving a Libyan club in recent times, particularly because of the size of the player’s salary.

Al Ahli Tripoli are yet to make the signing official, but the agreement is reportedly in place and an announcement is expected soon.

If completed as reported, Tougai will become the latest high-profile addition to an Al Ahli Tripoli squad that is increasingly showing its ambition in the transfer market.