Deal for midfielder Emana completes Al Ahli's foreign quartet

Al Ahli have struck a rare blow for continuity after deciding to retain all four foreigners players from last season.

The Dubai club this week converted the loan deal for Achille Emana, the Cameroon international, from Al Hilal on a permanent two-year deal by agreeing a fee of €1.2 million (Dh5,43m) with the Saudi club.

The deal for Emana, who scored twice in 11 Pro League appearances for Ahli last season, is the final piece in the jigsaw for coach Quique Sanchez Flores who has also retained Luis Jimenez, Grafite and Yousuf Mohammed. Sanchez Flores himself has ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract.

The Spaniard took charge of Ahli in November after the club parted company with Ivan Hasek and led them to the Etisalat Cup and a fifth-place finish in the league.

Ahli have already begun training under the technical staff and the squad will be boosted by the return of the foreign players tomorrow and their coach on Wednesday. They will play friendlies on August 11 and 18, and leave for a training camp in Spain from August 23 to September 9.

Ajman, meanwhile, completed their foreign signings by capturing Founeke Sy, the Mali striker, and Karrar Jassim, the Iraq international.

They will team up with Karim Kerkar, the Algerian midfielder, and Boris Kabi, the Ivorian forward, both of whom have been given one-year extensions.

apassela@thenational.ae