Egyptian giants Al Ahly have rejected a formal offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for midfielder Emam Ashour during the current summer transfer window. Despite lucrative financial incentives, the Cairo club remains determined to keep one of its standout stars.
Al-Ittihad submitted a $6 million bid to Al Ahly, alongside a massive annual salary offer of $4 million for the player. However, Al Ahly’s board turned down the proposal, classifying Ashour as a non-negotiable asset for the team’s upcoming campaign.
Ashour currently earns an estimated $350,000 per year with Al Ahly—a fraction of the proposed Saudi salary. Consequently, the Red Giants’ management has initiated talks to revise and extend his contract to reflect his key status within the squad.
Negotiations between Al Ahly and Ashour’s representatives are underway to improve his personal terms. While conversations are active, no final agreement on the financial terms of the new deal has been finalized yet.
Reports indicate that Al Ahly would only consider selling the midfielder if a significantly higher offer is made. The club invested heavily when signing Ashour from Danish side FC Midtjylland in the summer of 2023, in a deal totaling around $4 million including transfer fees and add-ons.
Al Ahly’s board maintains that selling Ashour now would undermine the squad’s competitiveness across domestic and continental tournaments, asserting that any potential departure must command a fee substantial enough to fund a top-tier replacement.
