Promising Egyptian goalkeeper Hamza Alaa has completed a move to Portuguese second-division side Portimonense, signing a two-year contract after leaving Al Ahly as a free agent.
Portimonense confirmed the deal on Wednesday, signaling a new beginning for the 23-year-old, who chose not to renew his contract with the Egyptian giants following the 2023/24 season.
Alaa had long been touted as one of Al Ahly’s rising stars, but with limited playing time behind senior keepers Mohamed El-Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir, he opted to seek new opportunities elsewhere.
The talented shot-stopper caught international attention with his standout performances for Egypt at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he impressed with his agility and confidence in goal.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that Alaa’s contract will keep him at Portimonense until the summer of 2027, marking his first professional stint in European football.
The move is expected to give Alaa the regular minutes he lacked in Cairo, and potentially open the door to higher-level opportunities if he excels in Liga Portugal 2.
