Al Ahly bring in Ghazl El Mahalla left-back Mahmoud Salah

Al Ahly have signed 18-year-old left-back Mahmoud Salah from Ghazl El Mahalla on a five-year contract, with the Egyptian club moving quickly to cover for injured Morocco international Youssef Belammari.

The Egyptian champions announced the deal on Thursday evening in a statement published on their official account on X.

Salah becomes Al Ahly’s sixth summer signing as the club continues to strengthen its squad. His arrival follows Belammari’s serious knee injury, which has left the Moroccan defender facing a prolonged absence after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament.

The teenager joins Al Ahly from Ghazl El Mahalla, completing a move that was finalised after the club’s contracting department concluded all of the financial and administrative arrangements.

Isam Serageldin, Al Ahly’s head of the contracting sector, oversaw the completion of the transfer in full co-ordination with football director Wael Gomaa.

The club’s decision to recruit Salah came soon after Belammari’s injury. Belammari joined Al Ahly during the previous winter transfer window from Raja Casablanca and had been brought in to strengthen the team’s defensive options.

Salah’s move means Al Ahly have now added six players during the summer transfer period. Before completing the deal for the Ghazl El Mahalla defender, the club had signed Monsef Bekrar, Sofiane Benjedida, Ali Mahmoud and Aqtay Abdallah.

Al Ahly have also brought back their former player Akram Tawfik, with his return included among the club’s summer additions.

The Cairo-based side have therefore acted promptly to address the gap created by Belammari’s injury, turning to a young domestic player for the left-back position. Salah’s five-year agreement represents a long-term commitment from Al Ahly, who have secured his services at the age of 18.

The announcement was made by the club itself after the final contractual procedures had been completed, confirming the defender’s move from Ghazl El Mahalla to the Egyptian giants.

Belammari’s arrival in the previous winter window had come from Raja Casablanca, but his cruciate ligament injury has changed Al Ahly’s plans in the position. The club responded by completing Salah’s transfer while continuing its wider recruitment programme.

With Salah now added to the squad, Al Ahly’s summer business includes four new signings, the returning Akram Tawfik and the former Ghazl El Mahalla left-back. The club has not provided any further details about the financial terms of the agreement, but confirmed that all financial and administrative aspects of the transfer had been settled.