Zamalek have been banned from registering new players by FIFA following the club’s failure to pay outstanding wages owed to former Moroccan striker Khalid Boutaib.
The Egyptian club, one of the most successful in African football, has been sanctioned after it emerged that nearly €1 million remains unpaid to Boutaib, who had previously taken the matter to football’s global governing body.
The transfer embargo effectively prevents Zamalek from adding any new signings to their squad until the debt is cleared.
Club board member Amr Adham confirmed the development through the club’s official media channels.
He acknowledged that the transfer ban had been reinstated because Zamalek had been unable to fulfil the payment agreement.
“The ban was reactivated due to our inability to meet the remaining payments over the past few months,” Adham admitted.
Boutaib, who joined Zamalek in January 2019, terminated his contract in 2020, citing unpaid salaries.
The dispute has since remained a long-running legal and financial issue for the Cairo-based side.
Although partial payments were reportedly made, the remaining sum — amounting to €983,000 — has triggered the reimposition of the ban.
This is not the first time Zamalek has faced sanctions related to financial mismanagement.
The club has previously found itself in hot water with both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over breaches related to player contracts and delayed payments.
The latest decision by FIFA now casts a shadow over Zamalek’s upcoming transfer window, with the club already under pressure to strengthen a squad that has struggled for consistency both domestically and continentally in recent months.
Fans and analysts alike have voiced concerns about how the restriction could impact preparations for the new season.
It remains unclear whether the club has a timeline in place to settle the remaining balance or appeal the decision.
However, under FIFA regulations, Zamalek’s ban will only be lifted once full payment has been confirmed.
For now, Zamalek must navigate a critical period of rebuilding while unable to bring in reinforcements — a scenario that threatens to derail their aspirations for both league and continental success in the coming season.
