Egypt defender Omar Fayed set for Serie A test after Frosinone switch

Omar Fayed has joined Frosinone from Fenerbahce on a permanent four-year contract, opening a new chapter in the Egypt defender’s career and giving him his first opportunity to play in Italy’s Serie A.

Frosinone confirmed the signing in an official statement, saying: “The club announces that it has reached an agreement with Fenerbahce to sign Omar Fayed Abdel Wahab El-Rakhawy. The defender, born in 2003, will join the club on a permanent contract lasting four years.”

Fenerbahce also announced the departure of the centre-back, who joined their first team in 2023.

The Turkish club said: “An agreement has been reached with Frosinone Calcio for the permanent transfer of Omar Fayed, who joined our first team in 2023. We wish him good luck and success in the next stage of his career.”

Fayed’s time with Fenerbahce included a series of loan spells as he gained experience in different European leagues. He spent periods with Serbian club Novi Pazar, Belgian side Beerschot and Portugal’s Arouca before returning to Turkey at the start of the current season.

The 23-year-old is now preparing for his first experience of Italian football with Frosinone, who have recently returned to Serie A.

Fayed travelled to Rome last Friday to complete the formalities of the move. He underwent his routine medical examination in the Italian capital, passed the tests successfully and then signed the official transfer documents with Frosinone.

His move adds another Egyptian player to the history of the country’s involvement in Italian football. Mohamed Salah played for Fiorentina and Roma between 2015 and 2017, and remains one of the most prominent Egyptians to have appeared in Serie A.

Hazem Emam was among the first Egyptian players to move to Italy, joining Udinese in the late 1990s. Ahmed Hossam Mido had a brief spell with Roma in 2004, while Hany Said played for Bari.

Egypt defender Ahmed Hegazi also joined Fiorentina in 2012.

Fayed’s immediate challenge will be to establish himself in a Frosinone squad competing in Italy’s top flight. His previous loan experiences in Serbia, Belgium and Portugal have provided him with exposure to different styles of football, while the permanent move represents a significant step after his time under contract at Fenerbahce.

The transfer was completed during the current summer window after the defender completed his medical checks and finalised the agreement in Italy.