Islam Abou-Salima: Egyptian defender joins El Gouna on free transfer from Harras Hodoud

Egyptian centre-back Islam Abou-Salima has joined El Gouna on a free transfer from Harras Hodoud. The 33-year-old left-footed defender moves within the Egyptian Premier League, strengthening El Gouna’s options at the heart of their back line.

Abou-Salima, who stands at 1.82m, arrives with extensive top-flight experience. He has made 184 Premier League appearances in Egypt, scoring 13 goals and adding one assist, while accumulating more than 14,700 minutes of league football. He has also featured regularly in domestic cup competitions and the CAF Confederation Cup, underlining his familiarity with both domestic and continental action.

The move to El Gouna follows a two-year spell with Harras Hodoud, whom he also joined on a free transfer from Ittihad Alexandria in 2024. Before that, Abou-Salima spent time with El Masry after an earlier switch from El Shorta, building a career largely rooted in the Egyptian top flight.

Across league, cup and play-off fixtures, Abou-Salima has been a consistent presence, including outings in relegation and championship play-offs, as well as the Egyptian League Cup. That breadth of experience across pressure situations is likely to be a key factor in El Gouna’s decision to secure his services.

Abou-Salima’s contract with El Gouna began on 23 July 2026, confirming his status as the club’s latest defensive signing on a permanent free transfer from Harras Hodoud.