Al Ahly SC has moved into a financial restructuring era with the introduction of a salary cap for players as it revises its financial policies, Arab Times reported on June 21, 2026. The plan seeks to regulate spending in the football department amid lucrative offers for several stars from Gulf and foreign clubs. Base salaries will range from 20 million to 25 million Egyptian pounds annually, with bonuses up to 8 million pounds for a potential maximum of 32 million.
Sports journalist Amir Hisham detailed how the club’s football decision-makers including Yassin Mansour, Sayed Abdel Hafeez and Wael Gomaa agreed on the strict wage framework. The officials identified highly valued contracts that prompted the new limits. Arab Times reported that the policy will be enforced without any exceptions for squad members. This step ties a large share of earnings to on-field results such as winning major titles.
The financial changes have already begun shaping the club’s approach to the transfer market. Arab Times reported that a Gulf club submitted a serious offer for star winger Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet. Interest from abroad in other members of the squad has added pressure to maintain the new spending discipline. Club officials have indicated the framework will serve as the standard for all future contracts.
Al Ahly holds the highest market value of any sports club in Africa at €30 million as of the 2023-24 season. The club approved a record total budget of EGP 8.488 billion last year and posted a football surplus of EGP 45 million for 2024-25 boosted by FIFA Club World Cup revenues, Yahoo Sports reported in September 2025. A study by the Project on Middle East Political Science noted that even leading Egyptian clubs such as Al Ahly have regularly reported budget deficits exceeding 200 million Egyptian pounds due to limited revenue sources.
The club applied salary deductions as a disciplinary measure following a disappointing run of results earlier in 2026. Reports indicated players received their March salaries with a 30 percent cut along with additional reductions tied to contract values. These actions highlighted ongoing efforts to link compensation more closely to performance. Such steps preceded the formal adoption of the annual wage limits now in place.
Zamalek vice president Hesham Nasr stated in November 2025 that his club’s sponsorship income remained less than one quarter of Al Ahly’s despite recent growth in commercial deals. Both Cairo rivals have navigated rising debts and interest costs in recent years. The salary cap at Al Ahly may influence financial practices across the Egyptian Premier League. Officials at the club have framed the policy as essential for balancing competitive success with fiscal stability.
