Khalil set to leave Al Ahli for Jazira
dubai — UAE striker Ahmed Khalil looks set to end his long association with defending champions Al Ahli with a big move to Arabian Gulf League rivals Al Jazira in the summer.
Social media reports said that Khalil, AFC Player of the Year in 2015, will leave the Red Knights and head to the Abu Dhabi club on a free transfer. It is being said that Khalil has agreed to a fourdeal worth almost Dh 18 million a year, as well as other perks.
Al Jazira did not confirm nor deny the news when contacted by the Khaleej Times on Wednesday.
If the move is done, it will bring an end to a 16-year stay with Al Ahli. The 25-year-old, who started with the Red Knights at age eight, rose through the age group teams and made it to the Al Ahli youth team. After five years with the youth team, Khalil earned promotion to the first team and went on to score his first goal for the club against Al Wahda, in the 2006-07 season.
Ever since then, Khalil has been a permanent fixture with the Red Knights and also went on to make the step up to the UAE team after impressing at the age group level.
Khalil has made 157 appearances and scored 50 goals since joining the Al Ahli first team in 2006. Khalil, who became the first Emirati to win the AFC Player of the Year award, has also been capped 87 times by the UAE and scored 49 goals.
If Khalil were to move to Al Jazira, he will link up with UAE teammate and frontman Ali Ahmed Mabkhout as well as new buy Leonardo, who joined the Pride of Abu Dhabi from South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC.
Al Jazira currently lead the Arabian Gulf League and are on course to winning a second League title after the 2010-11 season.
james@khaleejtimes.com