The Columbus Crew announced Saturday morning that the Club has acquired Wessam Abou Ali as a Designated Player from Egyptian club Al Ahly Sporting Club. Abou Ali helped Al Ahly to back-to-back championships, and is set to join the Black & Gold pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

Abou Ali notched 38 goals and 10 assists in 60 appearances across all competitions for the Egyptian powerhouse. In his debut season, Abou Ali recorded 18 goals en route to Al Ahly’s 2023/24 Egyptian Championship. In the 2024/25 season, he tallied 10 goals, helping them capture another league title, the Egyptian Super Cup, and the CAF Champions League titles.

Abou Ali has multiple multi-goal games, including three hat tricks and scoring the “perfect hat trick” scored in Al Ahly’s 4-4 match against FC Porto in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

“Wessam is a special player whose journey speaks to his resilience, character, and tireless work ethic, which are qualities we value at our Club. He is a proven goal-scorer who knows what it takes to help his team win. His clinical finishing, energy, and charisma will strengthen our squad, and we are confident that he will thrive within our system.” – General Manager Issa Tall

“The Haslam, Johnson and Edwards families continue to show their commitment to the Club’s long-term success, including through investing in the roster, improving our facilities and supporting our Academy.

This signing is also the result of Wilfried, Marc, and our entire soccer operations team collaborating and establishing a clear vision over many months. We’ll continue to strengthen the roster together through our One Club focus as we remain committed to contending for championships.”

Originally from Aalborg, Denmark, Abou Ali was granted a one-time switch in federation by FIFA in March 2024 to represent Palestine. He made his senior debut in June of 2024 against Lebanon and scored his first senior goal in September against Jordan. Currently, Abou Ali has 10 goals for the Palestinian National Team.