Khalil signs deal with French club

Dubai: Al Ahli and UAE striker Faisal Khalil has completed all formalities by signing a four-year contract with French second division club Chateauroux.

With this deal Khalil is now the first UAE player to turn fully professional in Europe.

The website of the French club has now posted all Khalil's relevant details including the fact that the jersey No 24 has been allotted to him.

"The deal was worth Dh16.5 million with the French club offering Al Ahli $700,000 [Dh 2.5 million]. Faisal will get Dh 14 million [$3.8 million]," said Fuwad Khalil, Faisal's elder brother, to Gulf News yesterday.

Fuwad added that Chateauroux had already sent $700,000 to Al Ahli club. "I don't know if they have received the money. But I can confirm that they have sent it and have also informed Fifa about it."

Faisal, who keeps in touch with his brother on a daily basis, has commenced training with the French club from the day of his arrival.

He now waits for the formalities to be completed following the release of the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the UAE FA to the French FA.

Should this happen soon then Faisal can be in action immediately. On the other hand if proceedings are delayed then Fifa will wait for 30 days for Faisal's ITC to be sent before granting the player a temporary ITC. A permanent ITC will be provided after a year.

Chateauroux coach Didier Olle-Nicolle welcomed his new player. "Faisal is a good player and is still young at 23. He has the motivation to become a big star. We will work hard with him and give him extra care in training to develop his talents and become an excellent striker who can play for big European clubs".

Meanwhile, Faisal is scheduled to play for the UAE in the Asian Cup qualifiers. The UAE meet Oman on February 22 at the Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai.

The UAE coach French Dominique Bathenay has submitted a shortlist of 40 players to the FA technical committee and Faisal is among them.

Bathenay stated that Faisal was needed given the national team's commitments. "I hope he [Faisal] can join the national team training to prepare for the Oman match. He is an important player," Bathenay said.