Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia has made a strong move to sign Imam Ashour, the midfielder from Al Ahly, by presenting a substantial financial offer during the current summer transfer window, according to reports from the Saudi newspaper "Al Riyadiyah."
According to the same source, the Saudi club offered $6 million to Al Ahly for the services of the Egyptian international, along with an annual salary of $4 million for the player. However, the management of the Red Castle rejected the offer, insisting on a higher financial compensation for agreeing to his departure.
Imam Ashour, 28, is tied to a contract with Al Ahly that runs until the summer of 2028, having joined the team in the summer of 2023 from Danish club Midtjylland.
The former Ghazl El Mahalla and Zamalek player has played 247 matches during his professional career, scoring 53 goals and providing 37 assists. He also represented Egypt in all five of their matches during the 2026 World Cup finals.
Interest in Ashour's services isn't limited to the Saudi league, as the website "celtsarehere" previously reported that Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill personally inquired about the possibility of signing the Al Ahly midfielder, following his standout performances with the Egypt national team at the 2026 World Cup.
The report indicates that Celtic's coach is placing Imam Ashour among the top options to bolster the midfield before the start of the new season, especially as the team prepares to participate in the UEFA Champions League following their Scottish Premiership title win.
In this context, reports indicate that the player's contract extension with Al Ahly does not seem likely at the moment, given his desire to pursue a new professional experience in Europe.
Coventry City has entered the fray of clubs interested in signing the Egyptian international, based on the wishes of manager Frank Lampard, who is keen to bring the player on board. Reports suggest that the deal could be valued at around £4 million.
Imam Ashour left a clear mark with the Egyptian national team in the 2026 World Cup, having scored two goals, the first against Belgium with a powerful shot, and the second against Australia with a remarkable header. These were his first two international goals in his career with the "Pharaohs," for whom he has played 34 matches.
