West Bromwich will sign Ali Gabr for €500K: Mortada

CAIRO – 23 January 2018: Zamalek SC President Mortada Mansour announced the final agreement with West Bromwich Albion on Ali Gabr's joining the English club.

Mortada Mansour had an interview with ON Sport channel and revealed the signing.

"We reached an agreement with West Bromwich to sign our defender Ali Gabr," Mortada said.

"Ali Gabr will be transferred to West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season," he added.

"Zamalek will get €500,000 ($615,000) for the loan. The first offer was €200,000, but I managed to raise the offer to €500,000," he said.

Mortada added, "If West Brom wants to include Ali Gabr permanently, the club will have to pay €1,250,000."

Ali Gabr has been involved in 14 games for Zamalek this season in the Egyptian League.

Gabr has 18 international appearances with the Egyptian national team and is one of the most dependable elements of Argentine coach Hector Cooper.

Gabr, 29, had been followed by West Brom scouts during his participation with the national team in the 2017 African Cup of Nations, but the club decided to sign Ahmed Hegazy, according to the club’s former manager, Tony Pulis.

Gabr is expected to replace the club’s captain, Johnny Evans, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City since the summer.