Pyramids FC completed on Friday the signing of Ahly's departing keeper Sherif Ekramy on a free transfer, marking their second high-profile acquisition following the signing of winger Ramadan Sobhi. Ekramy, who announced in February that he would be leaving boyhood club Ahly in the summer in search of regular first-team football, has penned a three-year deal with Pyramids, the Emirati-owned club said. "When I first spoke to Pyramids FC officials, I found a strong ambition to challenge for honours," the veteran 37-year-old guardian told a news conference. "My choice was based on certain criteria, given that I'm used to competing for titles." Ekramy fell out with Ahly's board of directors last month, with the club deciding that he would no longer feature in their plans for the remainder of the season. He appeared to pay the price of publicly discussing a controversial saga surrounding on-loan winger Sobhi, who dropped a bombshell by rejecting Ahly's offer to sign him on a permanent basis from English side Huddersfield, joining Pyramids instead. Ekramy, who is Sobhi's brother-in-law, distanced himself from the matter, stressing that all news indicating that he had a role in convincing Sobhi to snub Ahly's offer are completely false. He implied that he is being scapegoated for Ahly's failure to keep hold of the talented schemer, one of the Cairo giants' standout performers over the past two seasons. Ekramy, who is a product of Ahly's youth academy, spent a short spell with Dutch club Feynoord in 2008 before returning to Egypt one year later to join Gouna. He then returned to Ahly in 2010. He lost his place between the sticks in 2017, making way for Mohamed El-Shennawi, who produced a string of strong displays with the Red Devils and the Egyptian national team. Ekramy only made one appearance this season, featuring against Beni Sweif in the Egypt Cup. Pyramids are also set to sign another Ahly veteran in right-back Ahmed Fathi, whose deal also runs out at the end of the season. The big-spending club finished third in the Egyptian league last season and are challenging Zamalek for the second spot, which earns qualification for the lucrative African Champions League, this term. They will also face Guinea's AC Horoya in the semi-final of the Confederation Cup, Africa's secondary club competition. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
