Bristol City have today announced the signing of the highly rated forward Emad Meteb for a club record £1.5 million pounds, subject to the striker obtaining a work permit. The Egyptian international had been linked with a move to Ashton Gate week after week, without an official comment from the club, but the player was unveiled today and manager Gary Johnson is delighted to have finally got his man. "He has always been our number one target. He's a quality finisher and the fox in the box. We've needed one for a while and I think he can work well with any of the strikers we have at the club."
Speaking of the longevity of the transfer to complete, Johnson added, "We've been tracking him for sometime and I have been over to Egypt to see him play. We have seen all of his African Cup of Nations games and we like his style of play and professionalism." The transfer, it has been documented, almost stalled over how the transfer fee was to be paid to Egyptian side Al-Ahly. This has been negotiated now and the deal will complete once the work permit arrives for the 25 year old.
Meteb was a popular and successful player at Al-Ahly, having been at the Cairo based club since the age of 12. During his time at the club he won a Bronze Medal at the FIFA Club World Cup 2006, 4 Egyptian Premier League titles, 2 Egypt Cup titles, 3 Egyptian Super Cup titles, 2 CAF Champions League winners medals as well as 2 CAF Super Cup winners medals. The club is hugely successful, has a massive following and high crowd expectations, so Emad should not be daunted by the English game at all.
Whilst at Al-Ahly Meteb was called into the Egyptian national team where the striker has won the last two African Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2008. His strike rate is formidable too, scoring 22 goals in 47 appearances for his country and 89 goals in 172 appearances for Al-Ahly. Although last season Meteb only scored 5 goals for his club, his last appearance for Egypt saw him score twice in a 2-0 win against Malawi.
Speaking through a translator, Meteb said "It was a difficult decision to leave the club where I grew up and learnt football, but this is a professional life and I'm sure people will understand my decision in Egypt. I hope to realise all my dreams with Bristol City. I am happy to be here and I want to help the club win promotion to the Premier League."
This exciting news will prove to rivals in The Championship that Bristol City are not resting on the laurels of last season's success, the club wants to push onwards and upwards, striving for automatic promotion and the acquisition of Meteb will go some way to achieving that objective.
The transfer activity will not stop here with Johnson claiming Bristol City had placed 3 bids for players after the Gavin Williams deal was finalised, so the squad will be improved still, even after the addition of a club record signing. Our club is on the up, and captures of this calibre prove it.
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