Rabat - Morocco’s Atlas Lion Karim El Ahmadi has officially signed with Saudi Arabia’s football club Al Ittihad Jeddah for a two-year contract.
Rabat – Morocco’s Atlas Lion Karim El Ahmadi has officially signed with Saudi Arabia’s football club Al Ittihad Jeddah for a two-year contract.
Al Ittihad confirmed the news on Monday via Twitter.
“We welcome the new tiger Karim El Ahmadi,” wrote the club.
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— ???? ??????? ??????? (@ittihad) July 9, 2018
A photo of the footballer in Dubai was shared widely on social media as several news outlets reported that his trip to Dubai was to carry out medical checks for his new club.
Al Ittihad Jeddah signed the Moroccan Atlas Lion from Dutch football team Feyenoord.
The Moroccan footballer joined Feyenoord in 2008 and played two seasons with them before joining the UAE’s football team, Al Ahli, on loan in 2011.
Feyenoord signed another deal with Aston Villa for another two seasons (2012-2014), for GBP 2 million. The footballer made 56 appearances with Aston Villa.
El Ahmadi also made the list of Morocco’s national football team who participated in the 2018 World Cup.
Some of El Ahmadi’s fans did not appreciate his move.
A Facebook user wrote that this transfer will be the “end of his career.”
Another one expressed shock, saying “what?”
Several Moroccan footballers signed or were linked with a move to international football clubs, including Ajax star Hakim Ziyech.
Speculations were rife about Ziyech move to AS Roma, but no announcement has been made officially about his move.
Mexico’s football team also showed interest in Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi ever since his performance with Morocco’s local national team in the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2018).
Also, Spanish football club Malaga CF confirmed the signing of 21-year old Moroccan footballer Badr Boulahroud from Morocco’s Fath Union Sport.
The Spanish team signed the Moroccan player for a three-year contract.