Al Ahly reaches deal for Ivorian striker Ibrahim Diabaté but signing faces late obstacle

Al Ahly secures an agreement with GAIS for the permanent transfer of Ibrahim Diabaté, yet the striker’s move to Cairo remains on hold as the Egyptian giants attempt to clear a foreign-player slot before completing the deal.

Weeks of tense negotiations, shifting demands, and rising uncertainty finally led both clubs to settle on a transfer package worth $1.6 million.

The agreement includes a $600,000 signing bonus and a further $1 million scheduled for payment in September 2026.

The structure satisfies GAIS’s revised conditions and places Al Ahly in position to welcome the 26-year-old Ivorian forward.

Despite the breakthrough, Al Ahly asked for additional time before officially signing the player.

The club must resolve its foreign-player quota and free up a place on the roster.

Until that happens, Diabaté cannot join the squad, and the delay now threatens the entire operation.

GAIS set the end of the week as the deadline to finalise the transfer. If Al Ahly fails to complete the administrative steps in time, the Swedish side may turn to alternative offers.

RC Lens and several Gulf clubs continue to express interest and could re-enter discussions if the Cairo club fails to move quickly.

The situation puts pressure on Al Ahly, which risks losing a player it has pursued for weeks. Diabaté remains under contract with GAIS until December 2028, and Transfermarkt currently values him at €1.5 million.

His performances in Sweden drew the attention of multiple clubs and helped position him as one of the Ivorian talents making waves in the transfer market.

Everything now depends on Al Ahly’s ability to act swiftly and resolve its squad-registration issue before GAIS’s deadline closes the door on the agreement.