Al Ahli signs the largest sponsorship deal in the history of Egypt and the Middle East

Al Ahly Club announced a new phase in its sports investment portfolio, following the announcement of the largest sponsorship deal in the club’s history, alongside the signing of the largest stadium naming rights agreement in the Middle East. The partnership unites Al Ahly with Vodafone and United Sports Company.

The announcement came during a grand ceremony held the day before yesterday evening at the foot of the Giza Pyramids, attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Jawhar Nabiel, Al Ahly Club President Mahmoud El Khatib, United Sports Company President Mohamed Yehia Lotfy, and Vodafone President Mohamed Abdullah, along with numerous personalities and stars from Al Ahly and Egyptian sports.

The new partnership extended beyond Vodafone securing shirt sponsorship for Al Ahly for four seasons for approximately $26 million, or $6.5 million annually. It also included naming rights for Al Ahly’s new stadium in Sheikh Zayed City, which will be named “Vodafone Stadium.” This deal, valued at over $160 million, stands as one of the largest sports investment deals in the region, marking the largest sponsorship contract in the history of Egyptian and Middle Eastern football.

During his speech at the event, Minister Jawhar Nabiel emphasized that the agreement reflects the transformation underway in Egyptian sports. He noted that sports are no longer just about competitions within stadiums but have become an economic industry capable of attracting investments and contributing to development. He added that partnerships between major sports institutions and large economic entities represent a successful model for investing in youth and sports, which will positively impact the development of the entire Egyptian sports system.

For his part, Mahmoud El Khatib revealed the behind-the-scenes details of the agreement, explaining that the process began during his medical treatment in January last year, when he received a sponsorship offer for the club from Vodafone, bringing the dream of a new stadium closer to reality. He stated that he asked the board of directors to review the offer and seek better alternatives. However, after examining all proposals, the club found nothing surpassing the offer presented. Negotiations later expanded to include the stadium naming rights, which he considered a significant additional investment for the club.

Meanwhile, Al Ahly announced the signing of Algerian striker Mostefa Zeghdoud, arriving from Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb on a three-year contract. In other transfer news, Pyramids Club revealed its first deal of the current summer transfer window by signing 21-year-old defender Eyad Al-Asqalani, a former player for Rostov and Ismaily, to bolster his defensive line.