Ajax sign Mido from Middlesbrough
Dutch giants Ajax recently confirmed on their official website that they have completed the transfer of striker Ahmed Hossam (‘Mido') from Football League Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
The Egypt international has signed a one-year deal with the Eredivisie club — where he enjoyed a two-year spell earlier in his career — after joining on a free transfer.
The striker has found himself as a surplus to requirements under Gordon Strachan, as Boro have brought in Estonian international forward Tarmo Kink, and the Scottish Premier League’s all-time leading goal scorer Kris Boyd this summer. They also have Leroy Lita, Lee Miller, and Scott MacDonald on the books.
After losing strikers Kennedy Bakircioglu, Dennis Rommedahl, and Marko Pantelic this summer, Ajax coach Martin Jol had been desperate to add more options to his striking department. He made Mido his primary target and, after lengthy talks, has finally captured the services of the 27-year-old.
'Needed attacker'
Jol, who previously worked with the player at English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, told his club’s website: "I'm very happy that the transfer is finally a done deal. We really needed one more attacker and we've been working hard in the past couple of weeks to sign a relatively cheap forward.”
Mido had played for Ajax between 2001 and 2003, where he scored 23 goals in 53 appearances. Since then, he has been on somewhat of a nomadic trek through Europe, having played for Celta Vigo, Marseille, Roma, Spurs, Wigan and Zamalek, which was his first club before he moved to Belgian side Gent.
Towards the end of his time at Middlesbrough, Mido joined West Ham United on a four-month loan deal. In a bid to prove himself, he was willing to lower his wages to just £1000 a week, but failed to find the net in any of his nine appearances for the club.
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