Dubai: Al Ahli confirmed the signing of Moroccan midfielder Osama Assaidi from English Premier League side Liverpool on Monday.
The 26-year-old winger, formerly of Dutch sides De Graafschap and Heerenveen, joins on a three-and-a-half-year contract in a transfer reportedly worth £4.7 million (Dh26.2 million).
Assaidi joined Liverpool from Heerenveen for £2.4 million in August 2012 but failed to impress at Anfield, making just 12 appearances before being loaned out to Stoke City in September 2013. He scored five times in 25 appearances over a season-and-a-half at the Britannia Stadium.
Al Ahli’s official website confirmed the move with a statement and picture of the player holding an Al Ahli jersey in front of The Kop at Anfield, followed by a short biography.
“Al Ahli have signed 26-year-old Moroccan international winger Osama Assaidi from Liverpool for a period of three-and-a-half years,” confirmed the statement. “He will wear the No. 14 jersey and signed terms in the presence of Al Ahli’s chief executive officer Ahmad Khalifa Hammad and the club’s director of football Roy Aitken.”
A statement on Liverpool’s official website read: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm Osama Assaidi has left on a permanent transfer to join Al Ahli Club. The Moroccan winger ended a loan spell with Stoke City early in order to complete the switch to Dubai.”
The Moroccan international replaces released Romanian defensive midfielder Mirel Radoi at Al Ahli and will provide cover for injured Brazilian attacking midfielder Ciel, who suffered a double ankle fracture in a 1-0 win away to Sharjah in the opening week of the season.
Assaidi’s signing is a solid statement of intent from the Red Knights, who have failed to replicate last season’s Arabian Gulf League, Arabian Gulf Cup and Arabian Gulf Super Cup treble-winning form.
The Al Qusais-based outfit are currently sixth in the league with 20 points from 13 games, seven short of leaders Al Ain. Last week they were eliminated at the Arabian Gulf Cup group stage.
Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu is currently on loan to the Saudi Arabian national team at the ongoing Asian Cup in Australia and is tipped for a permanent switch if he succeeds. Sweeping changes are expected by the club in the January transfer window, with the future of fellow foreigners Grafite, Luis Jimenez and Carlos Munoz in doubt.
Elsewhere, Ajman have replaced Tunisian coach Fathi Al Jabal with Portuguese tactician Manuel Cajuda. The Orange Brigade are second from bottom in the league on nine points from 13 games, three points from safety. Cajuda previously managed Sharjah between 2009 and 2011.
