Al Masry sign Yassin El Mallah from Pharco on four-year deal in second summer transfer

Al Masry have confirmed the signing of Pharco defensive midfielder Yassin El Mallah on a four-year contract, completing the Port Said club’s second addition of the current summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old joins after Al Masry reached an agreement with Pharco and the player, with the deal finalised and announced on Tuesday via the club’s official social media channels.

FilGoal.com had previously reported that Al Masry had struck a deal in principle with El Mallah and Pharco over a four-season move.

The transfer comes after El Mallah was on the verge of joining ZED earlier in the window, but those negotiations collapsed due to a disagreement over the financial terms, according to information obtained by FilGoal.com.

Presentation and club reaction

Al Masry unveiled El Mallah in a video published across their official platforms, introducing him to supporters as the latest arrival in Emad El Nahhas’ squad.

In the presentation clip, the midfielder greeted fans by saying: “انا ياسين الملاح.. نسر جديد في مدينة النسور.”

The club accompanied the announcement with the message: “جاي بقوة النسور.. ياسين الملاح دلوقتي واحد مننا …اهلا بيك.”

El Mallah’s move follows the earlier signing of Moroccan player Abdellah El Ziyani, who joined Al Masry from Difaa El Jadidi, making the Egyptian midfielder the second confirmed incoming transfer of the summer.

Last season’s fortunes

Pharco suffered relegation to the second-tier professional league after finishing last season’s Egyptian Premier League campaign in the penultimate position.

Al Masry, by contrast, ended the same league campaign in fifth place, collecting 40 points but falling short of qualification for continental competition. As a result, the Port Said side will not feature in any CAF tournaments in the coming season.

Head coach Emad El Nahhas, who remains in charge of the first team, is overseeing a rebuild of the squad following several departures and the club’s push to improve on last term’s league standing.

Player profile and statistics

El Mallah operates primarily as a defensive midfielder and is regarded as a physically strong option in the centre of the pitch.

Last season, he made 37 appearances for Pharco in all competitions, amassing a total of 5,294 minutes on the field. During that time he scored one goal, underlining his main role as a holding midfielder rather than an attacking threat.

His arrival is expected to help compensate for the loss of key names in the Al Masry squad. The club have seen both Kingsley Edo and Mido Gaber leave during the current transfer window, reducing their options in advanced and midfield areas.

Al Masry will now continue their preparations for the new domestic campaign with El Mallah integrated into El Nahhas’ plans, as the club seek to build on their top-five finish and strengthen their position in the upper half of the Egyptian Premier League.