In August 2019, Al-Zamalek signed a young player coming from Ghazl Mahalla, after his loan spell with El-Haram (Haras El-Hodoud) ended. At the time, his market value did not exceed 200,000 euros, equivalent to approximately 3.67 million Egyptian pounds at the exchange rate then, while Ghazl Mahalla received 12 million pounds for his transfer to the White Fortress.
That player was Emam Ashour, who joined Al-Zamalek as part of a group of deals the Whites made in the summer of 2019. He was not the most talked-about transfer at the time, before his status and market value changed significantly in the following years.
And after 7 years, Emam Ashour's market value reached 5 million euros, according to the statistics website "Transfermarkt," making him the player with the highest market value in the Egyptian League.
From 150,000 euros to Al-Zamalek
The rise in Emam Ashour's market value began during his time on loan from Ghazl Mahalla to El-Haram. In December 2018, his market value was 150,000 euros, before rising to 200,000 euros in June 2019.
Ashour stood out with El-Haram during the 2018-2019 season, playing 32 league matches, in which he scored 4 goals and provided 1 assist.
In August of the same year, he moved to Al-Zamalek, before being crowned, just a few months later, specifically in November 2019, with the Egypt national team as winners of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Al-Zamalek.. The beginning of Emam Ashour's major leap
Ashour's start with Al-Zamalek was not rapid in terms of market value, but it took an upward trajectory as his appearances and influence within the team increased.
In November 2020, his value rose to 300,000 euros, then reached 400,000 euros in May 2021, before doubling to 800,000 euros in December of the same year.
As he gained more minutes in Al-Zamalek's midfield, Ashour continued his ascent, until his value jumped to 2 million euros in September 2022; equivalent to 10 times his value when he transferred to the White team.
The 2021-2022 season was one of his most prominent seasons with Al-Zamalek, as he played 40 matches and contributed to 8 goals, before participating in 16 matches during the first half of the 2022-2023 season, scoring 2 goals and providing 4 assists, for a total of 6 goal involvements.
Midtjylland.. A new peak before the decline
In January 2023, Emam Ashour's journey with Al-Zamalek ended with a transfer to Danish club Midtjylland. With the start of his European experience, his market value rose to 2.5 million euros in February 2023, which was the highest valuation he had reached up to that point.
However, the experience did not last long, as the player suffered an injury and was absent from participation in the latter part of the season, causing his value to drop to 2 million euros in June 2023.
Al-Ahly.. The road to 5 million euros
In the summer of 2023, Emam Ashour returned to the Egyptian League via Al-Ahly, marking the beginning of a new phase in the rise of his market value. By April 2024, his value had returned to 2.5 million euros, then rose to 3 million in October of the same year, and reached 3.5 million euros in February 2025.
The ascent continued to 4 million euros in June 2025, then 4.5 million euros in January 2026, but his value dropped in May of the same year to 4 million euros. However, it was only two months later that his market value recorded its highest level in his career.
During his journey with Al-Ahly, Ashour became one of the team's most prominent players, having played 105 matches by August 2026, scoring 32 goals and providing 25 assists, reaching 57 goal involvements in the red shirt.
He also won 7 titles with Al-Ahly, including the African Champions League, before the club announced in recent days the extension of his contract until 2030.
