Ahly's new recruit Junior Ajayi said his African idol is Nigeria great and fellow countryman Nwankwo Kanu, adding that he is proud to have completed a move to the continent's most successful club.
The Egyptian champions hope the 20-year-old, who also said former France striker Thierry Henry is one of his idols, will provide a solution to their lack of firepower following the departure of Gabonese striker Malick Evouna to China's Tianjin Teda.
Ahly have also signed another striker in Marwan Mohsen, who joined from Ismaily, to bolster their frontline that also includes John Antwi although the Ghanaian failed to prove his worth last season.
"Kanu is my idol in African football," Ajayi said on Ahly's official website, referring to the towering and talented striker who had spells with the likes of Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan and Arsenal.
"Thierry Henry is my idol in Europe. In Egypt, my idols are (former Ahly playmaker) Mohamed Abou-Treika and (current striker) Emad Meteb.
"I received a lot of offers lately, including from European clubs, but I eventually preferred to join Ahly. The club's pedigree is not less than Real Madrid or Chelsea."
Ajayi, who joined Ahly from Tunisia's Sfaxien for a reported fee of $2.5 million, could only make a few substitute appearances at the Rio Olympic Games as Nigeria won the bronze medal after beating Honduras in the third-place playoff last month.
"I was very exhausted and this is one of the reasons I did not play much at the Olympics. I respected the coach's decision and I'm proud to be one a member of the team which won bronze," he added.
"I know that playing for Ahly allow the players to make big names for themselves and I will do my best to help them win all domestic and African trophies."
