UAE striker Khalil joins Al Jazira on four-year deal

One of the long-standing transfer sagas in the UAE top flight has finally come to an end with Al Jazira confirming the arrival of international Ahmed Khalil.

A day after confirming the signing of Uzbekistan international Sardor Rashidov on a two-year contract, the Arabian Gulf Champions officially announced that Ahmed Khalil had put pen to paper to a four-year deal.

The Abu Dhabi club announced the news on their official twitter handle as well as the club's website on Monday.

Khalil, who became the first Emirati to be voted the AFC Player of the Year, joins on a free transfer from Dubai's Al Ahli, which has now been merged with Al Shabab and Dubai FC to become Shabab Al Ahli Dubai.

The 26-year-old striker's arrival at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium is a massive catch for the Pride of Abu Dhabi as he joins fellow international and last season's top goalscorer Ali Ahmed Mabkhout to become the most feared Emirati pairing next term.

"Al Jazeera Sports Company has officially announced the completion of all registration procedures for UAE international Ahmed Khalil in the first team after signing him in a free transfer as part of Abu Dhabi club's preparations for the upcoming 2017-2018 season," the club said in a statement.

"He joined the squad of Dutch coach Henk ten Cate and his current teammates include Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout. Khalil, winner of the Asia Player of the Year award in 2015, is delighted to join Al Jazira after a long career that includes individual and team achievements with his former Al Ahli team. We wish him the best in the coming period to add more cups and titles to Al Jazira's trophy cabinet," the club added.

Khalil was delighted to have joined the reigning Arabian Gulf League champions. "Moving to the Pride of Abu Dhabi is a new challenge," said Khalil. "Al Jazira are a team that can fight for titles, as they showed recently by winning the Arabian Gulf League.

Al Jazira has an ambitious project which is a motivation for any player. And I hope I can live up to those ambitions and achieve great things with Al Jazira. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Al Ahli club and the fans for their support. I take with me, some great memories from my time at Al Ahli," added Khalil.

Born in Sharjah, Khalil began his career at Al Ahli with the youth team in 2001 before breaking into the first team in 2006. And in a spell spanning 11 years, Khalil, who wore the No.11 jersey with Al Ahli, scored 123 goals in 250 appearances across competitions - League, Cup, GCC Champions League and the AFC Champions League.

He won the Arabian Gulf League in 2008-09 and 2013-14, the Arabian Gulf Super Cup in 2008, 2012 and 2014, the President's Cup in 2007-08 and the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2017.

Khalil, who also rose through the age group ranks - Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 - with the UAE, made his senior debut in 2008. He has been capped 88 times so far and has scored 47 goals.

He was also voted the Asian Young Footballer of the Year in 2008. Khalil's move to Al Jazira had been doing the rounds ever since March. And now, Al Jazira have put an end to all the speculation.

The Al Jazira squad left for their pre-season camp to The Netherlands on Monday morning. They travelled via Dusseldorf to Venlo, southeast of The Netherlands.

james@khaleejtimes.com

Source: Khaleej Times