Done deal: West Brom complete signing of Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi
West Brom have completed the signing of Egyptian centre-back Ahmed Hegazi on a one-year loan from Al Ahly with a view to a permanent deal.
The 6ft 5in defender passed his medical before heading out to Hong Kong to join up with his new team-mates ahead of this week's Premier League Asia Trophy.
The Baggies are paying the Egyptian champions a loan fee of £875,000 and included in the deal is an option to buy the 26-year-old for £3.5million before June 30, 2018.
Albion are now trying to gain international clearance for the former Fiorentina man to play against Leicester City this Wednesday.
"We're delighted to add Ahmed to the squad,” said chairman John Williams. “He caught our eye at the African championships and we've been tracking him ever since."
Hegazy was named in the African Cup of Nations team of the tournament after playing every single minute for Egypt en route to the final, which they lost to Cameroon.
Head coach Tony Pulis, who called up former Middlesbrough striker Mido to find out more about his fellow Egyptian, said: "We're pleased he's here, he's a good addition. He's got good pedigree and has played for some good clubs. Hopefully he'll be a good signing for us.
"With it being a loan and, if he does well, we've already agreed a final deal. It's really, really good for us."
As revealed by the Express & Star last week, Albion decided to make a move for Hegazi after baulking at the £8m loan fee Chelsea demanded for Kurt Zouma.
The Egyptian centre-back, who is known as the ‘Nesta of the Pyramids’ after the great Italian defender, has 39 caps for his country.
He joined Fiorentina at the end of 2011 from home-town club Ismaily for €1.5m as a 20-year-old prospect, but injuries plagued his time in Serie A.
He spent half a year in Serie B with Perugia before joining Al Ahly on a five year deal in 2015.
