Khalil returns to Shabab Al Ahli Club

UAE striker Ahmad Khalil looks to have returned to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club after images of him with paperwork alongside board member Khalifa Sulaiman were circulated on social media over the weekend.

Khalil left Al Ahli for Al Jazira last summer before the Al Ghusais outfit were merged with Al Shabab and Dubai Club to form Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.

The 27-year-old endured a torrid six months in Abu Dhabi, with just two appearances for Al Jazira, before a resurgent four goals in nine appearances for Al Ain whom he joined on a short term deal in January going on to win the league and cup double. A return to Shabab Al Ahli, with whom he scored 122 goals in 249 appearances between 2006 and 2017, winning four league titles and five cup competitions, would see him complete a homecoming if confirmed.

Reports follow confirmation of Senegalese striker Makhete Diop leaving Shabab Ahli for China’s Beijing Renhe after having spent seven years in the UAE.

Shabab Ahli’s Croatian forward Ante Erceg has also joined Denmark’s Brondby, while South Korean midfielder Moon Chang-jin had been made a free agent. Only Brazilian-born Moldovan forward Henrique Luvannor looks to have been retained among the foreigners.

In terms of Emirati players, Ahmad Al Attas has also joined Shabab Ahli from Al Jazira along with Abdullah Al Naqbi from Al Dhafra, while Mohammad Marzouk and Khamis Esmail have joined Al Nasr and Al Wasl respectively.