Palestinians Abroad: Islam Batran joins Wadi Degla

Yesterday witnessed one of the surprises of the transfer window. Islam Batran, a highly rated winger who has yet to earn his first international cap, signed with Wadi Degla of the Egyptian Premier League.

At 21, Batran will be given an opportunity to learn from veteran players such as Essam El-Hadary and will also be on show to Degla’s sister clubs: Lierse and Arsenal.

He becomes the third Palestinians in the Egyptian Premier League alongside former national team captain El-Masry’s Ramzi Saleh and current national team captain Abdelatif Bahdari of Talaea El-Geish.

Details of the contract are not immediately known but the former Ahli Al-Khaleel star wasted no time in asserting his credentials- scoring the opening goal on his unofficial debut; a 7-1 rout of Al-Nuba Club