Ahlys veteran striker Emad Meteb has officially joined Saudi side Al-Taawoun in a six month loan deal, the Cairo giants announced on Tuesday.
Meteb will join Al-Taawoun on a six month loan deal. The deal is official now after consulting teams technical staff," said Ahlys football sector director Abdel-Aziz Zizo Abdel-Shafy.
Metebs agent recently announced that the player will leave the Reds during the winter transfer window as he is targeting more chances to play regularly.
The 34-year-old hitman fell of out of favour at his boyhood club since the re-appointment of coach Hossam El-Badry in August 2016; appearing for few minutes in just 17 games and scoring just six goals in all competitions.
Meteb, who had his debut with Ahlys senior team in 2003, made just two appearances since the season start; one in the Egyptian league and another in Egypt Cup. He scored just one goal.
Meteb, who was Egypts star player for years, won a series of trophies with the Cairo-based club (eight league titles, two Egypt Cups, five Super Cups and three African Champions League trophies), saving many games with his late-scoring skill.
Egyptian trio at Al-Taawoun
The three time African Cup of Nations winner, Meteb, will be playing at the new club alongside fellow countrymen veteran keeper Essam El-Hadary and skillful winger Mostafa Fathi.
It is a great step from Al-Taawouns management to sign brilliant striker Emad Meteb who is considered one of the prominent strikers in Egyptian football history. Welcome the king of minute 90. El-Hadary said via his Twitter account early on Tuesday.
Meteb had a previous spell in the Saudi League when he joined Al-Ittihad in 2008 for one season on loan.
Egyptian Football Association chairman Hani Abou-Rida recently praised experienced midfielder Hossam Ghaly, who plays for Saudi club Al-Nasr, and Meteb, saying the national team needs them at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Egypt made it to the World Cup after 28 years of absence, topping Group E of the African qualifiers. The Pharaohs have been drawn with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and hosts Russia in Group A in the first stage of the tournament.
Meteb, who was absent from the international scene in recent years, could find his way back to the Pharaohs squad in the prestigious tournament through the recent move to the Saudi league.
Al-Taawoun currently lie seventh at the Saudi league table with 20 points from 16 matches, 14 behind leaders Al-Hilal.
