Inside the Ongoing Abou Ali Transfer Saga | OneFootball

Wessam Abou Ali, a 26-year-old Palestinian striker currently with Egyptian club Al Ahly, has been linked with a move to the MLS side Columbus Crew. The transfer has been a topic of discussion, especially following his impressive performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he scored a hat-trick against FC Porto (see below). Negotiations have been ongoing but the information internet sleuths have been piecing together has been far from clear, with various reports suggesting different stages of progress, here is a look at the developing situation as of July 21, 2025.

Transfer Saga

Based on recent X posts from @thecrewrhino and African journalists, on July 18, 2025, it appears that a deal has been agreed for Abou Ali to join Columbus Crew on a loan basis for $3 million, with an option to buy for $7 million. However, this information comes from a single source and has not been corroborated by more reliable journalists or official club statements.

Earlier, on July 17, 2025, Tom Bogert, a well-known soccer journalist, stated that no agreement had been reached, with negotiations still in progress and Columbus Crew considering other targets for their open Designated Player spot. This discrepancy highlights the uncertainty surrounding the transfer.

Other posts from July 17, 2025, include conflicting information. For instance, @MickyJnr__ quoted Zizo Sharif, who claimed Columbus Crew's assistant coach stated the club had no interest in Abou Ali and would not pay $8 million or $10 million for him, suggesting potential disinterest. Conversely, earlier posts on July 17 from accounts like @StreetFo0t and @AwalMoHudu suggested an agreement in principle, with figures like $8 million plus $2 million in bonuses mentioned, but these were not confirmed by authoritative sources.

More recently, on July 19, 2025, multiple reports surfaced suggesting progress in negotiations. According to Foot Africa and OneFootball, a "major breakthrough" occurred, with Al Ahly reportedly agreeing to sell Abou Ali to Columbus Crew for a transfer fee of $7.5 million, including a 15% resale clause and up to $2 million in performance-related add-ons. An intermediary, Adam Watani, told Egyptian outlet FilGoal that "positive developments and flexibility" in the last few hours were bridging gaps between the clubs.

Despite optimistic reports of a breakthrough, no official confirmation from Columbus Crew or Al Ahly has emerged as of July 21, 2025. Abou Ali is reportedly keen on the move, having waived $1 million from his contract to facilitate negotiations and skipped Al Ahly's training camp in Tunisia, signaling his intent to leave, according to African Soccer.

Analysis of Sources and Reliability

The reliability of sources varies significantly, impacting the confidence in reported updates:

Reliable Sources: Tom Bogert is a well-regarded soccer journalist with a history of accurate MLS transfer reporting. His update on July 17, 2025, at 16:03 EDT, stating no agreement had been reached, is a critical benchmark. Similarly, @NeilimeB's post at the same time echoed this, suggesting a consensus among credible voices.

Less Reliable Sources: Accounts like @StreetFo0t, @AwalMoHudu, and @thecrewrhino provide updates but lack the journalistic backing of @tombogert. For instance, @thecrewrhino's claim on July 18, 2025, of a loan deal is based on an unnamed Egyptian source, raising questions about verification. However, these sources may still be "directionally" correct.

Conflicting Reports: The quote from Zizo Sharif via @MickyJnr__ on July 17, 2025, suggesting Columbus Crew's disinterest, contrasts sharply with other reports of active negotiations, highlighting potential internal disagreements or miscommunication.

Player and Club Dynamics

Tensions between Abou Ali and Al Ahly have been noted, with reports of financial penalties imposed on the player for missing a scheduled MRI scan and deactivating his Instagram account (suposedly) due to fan backlash over his desire to leave. His exclusion from Al Ahly's training camp on July 17, 2025 per @onzemasr, further indicates his intent to move, aligning with reports of him pushing for the transfer.

Wait and See

Given the lack of confirmation from reliable sources as of July 21, 2025, and the conflicting reports, it seems likely that the transfer is still under negotiation, with no final agreement confirmed. The latest X post suggests a deal may be in place, but caution is advised due to the source's reliability and the ongoing uncertainty. Fans will just have to wait and see.