Wessam Abou Ali seals move to Columbus Crew
Wessam Abou Ali leaves Cairo after a highly successful 18 month spell. Transfer fee sets new record for Palestinian player.
After weeks of transfer rumors Wessam Abou Ali has finally left Al-Ahly SC penning a three year deal with Major League Soccer Side Columbus Crew SC.
The deal will make Wessam Abou Ali the team’s third Designated Player. That move means that the bulk of his salary will not count against the salary cap. It is rumored that the deal will pay him $4 million a season, a significant increase- estimated to be five times his current wage- on what the striker was earning as Al-Ahly’s top goal getter. Immediate details of the contract were not revealed but will be published by the MLS Player’s Association which publishes all salaries ahead of next season.
As part of the deal Al-Ahly will receive $7.5 million in two installments and can receive up to $2 million should Abou Ali net 15 league goals. There is also a 15% sell on clause included in the deal.
On Monday, Wessam Abou Ali appeared in a video posted on Al-Ahly’s official accounts apologizing to the fans for what was perceived to be unacceptable behavior. The striker said very little publicly during the saga but fans were upset after it was revealed that he had removed Al-Ahly from his Instagram bio.
The sale represents good business for Al-Ahly who paid just under $2 million to acquire the Palestinian striker from Allsvenskan side Sirius in January 2024.
Abou Ali's rise over the last four years has been meteoric. Less than four years ago he collapsed on the pitch while playing for Vendsyssel in the Danish second tier. His comeback in April of 2022 was interrupted after he broke multiple ribs- effectively ruling him out for the majority of the season.
When he returned to action in 2023 something clicked as he could not stop scoring. He tallied 16 goals and an assist in 34 appearances which attracted the interest of Allsvenskan side Sirius. Joining the Swedish side in midseason, Abou Ali proceeded to do what he does best- score goals. Ten goals in 16 games lifted the Uppsala based side from relegation fodder to eighth place- their best ever finish.
Given his consistency, Al-Ahly was holding out for a bid of $10 million but found few suitors in spite of the striker netting a hat trick against FC Porto at the Club World Cup.revealed that he had deleted Al-Ahly from his Instagram bio.
The sale represents good business for Al-Ahly who paid just under $2 million to acquire the Palestinian striker from Allsvenskan side Sirius in January 2024.
That said, the club was holding out for a bid of $10 million but found few suitors in spite of the striker netting a hat trick against FC Porto at the Club World Cup.
From the player’s perspective, the move to Major League Soccer is not only a chance to make life changing money but a way to continue winning titles. Columbus have been one of the best sides in the league thanks to Wilfred Nancy who is widely recognized as the best tactician in the league.
The team won MLS Cup in 2023 and made the final of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. On the back of that success, the team’s star striker Cucho Hernandez was sold to Real Betis in a deal worth at least $16 million.
Should Wessam Abou Ali continue his goalscoring form he will stand to add more trophies to his collection and line up a potential move to a Top 3 European League.
Wessam Abou Ali departs Al-Ahly having secured two league titles and the 2024 African Champions League. He scored 37 goals goals and notched 8 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions in his time with the club.