Al Ittihad‑Al Ahly Imam Ashour transfer negotiations

In mid‑July 2026 Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad entered the market with a $6 million bid and a proposed $4 million annual salary to sign Egyptian midfielder Imam Ashour from Al Ahly. Al Ahly rejected the offer, saying it undervalued the player, and indicated further interest in other midfielders while preparing for the new season.

By the end of July, Al Ahly had set a firm $10 million price tag for Ashour. Al Ittihad responded with an $8 million offer split into $6 million payable in January and $4 million in March, a structure Al Ahly opposed, causing negotiations to stall. A Turkish club, Konya Spor, reportedly offered $3 million (potentially rising to $3.5 million) for the midfielder, but Al Ahly dismissed the informal approach. Meanwhile, Al Ahly began drafting a contract renewal for Ashour, aiming to match the salaries of its highest‑paid players and secure a commercial deal to exploit his marketing value.