Al Ahly block all first-team exits before summer transfer deadline

Al Ahly have decided to prevent every first-team player from leaving the club during the current transfer window, ending speculation over possible departures before the summer market closes.

The Cairo giants have officially rejected any proposal for a member of their senior squad, whether it is formal or informal. The decision comes despite reports of interest from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Emam Ashour, with those possible approaches previously reported exclusively by Africafoot.

Al Ahly confirmed their position in an official statement published on their X account. The club’s direction has made clear that it will not enter negotiations over the departure of any first-team player during the remainder of the transfer period.

The move is intended to protect the stability of the squad as Al Ahly prepare for their next domestic and continental commitments. The club believes retaining a complete group will provide the best possible support for manager Hussein Ammouta and allow him to continue working with the players available to him.

By drawing a line under transfer rumours, Al Ahly’s leadership also hopes to prevent speculation from affecting the dressing room. The club wants to give Ammouta a calm working environment in which to develop his tactical plans, while maintaining the cohesion and continuity of the squad ahead of the new season.

The decision represents a firm change of approach in the final stages of the market. Rather than considering offers for individual players, Al Ahly have chosen to keep their first-team group together, regardless of whether interest arrives through official channels or informal contacts.

That stance is particularly significant in the case of Emam Ashour, whose name has been linked with potential moves to both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. However, the club’s position means that no offer for the midfielder will be negotiated while the current transfer window remains open.

Al Ahly are also seeking to respond after a season in which they failed to win a major trophy. The club’s priority is now to rebuild confidence and repay their supporters by entering the forthcoming campaign with a settled squad.

Their recruitment work has already included the arrivals of Oktay Abdallah, Ali Mahmoud, Soufiane Benjdida and Mouncef Bakrar. Having completed those additions, Al Ahly consider their incoming transfer business finished.

The decision to block departures therefore completes the club’s intended approach to the market: strengthen the squad, retain the established first-team players and give the coaching staff a stable group with which to work. Al Ahly will now move into the next phase of their season with the expectation that the squad remains intact for their domestic and continental challenges.