ENPPI wing-back Ahmed Al-Muhammadi has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan, the English Premier League club announced on Friday. "The Black Cats have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan spell," Sunderland said on their official website. Al-Muhammadi has realized a long-held dream of playing in England's elite competition after ENPPI finally agreed to let him move on. The petroleum club rejected an offer from Sunderland to sign him last January but the English side renewed their interest in the summer to snap him up. Al-Muhammadi will become the third Egyptian to play under the guidance of Sunderland's current coach Steve Bruce after Mido and Amr Zaki. Bruce managed Mido and Amr Zaki at Wigan Athletic but the latter's spell at the JJB Stadium was marred by disciplinary problems. Positives "I'm determined to take the positives from Zaki's experience at Wigan under Bruce, not the negatives," Al-Muhammadi told FilGoal.com.
"I want to prove my worth at Sunderland and remain in English football for three more years at least." Al-Muhammadi made no secret of his desire to experience European football after attracting a host of suitors over the past few years. The pacey wide man, whose jinking runs down the right flank always cause troubles for opponents, played a key role in helping Egypt win an unprecedented third successive Nations Cup title in January. He scored in Egypt's 2-0 group-stage victory over Benin when his cross somehow drifted its way into the net. He has scored three league goals for ENPPI in the Egyptian Premier League last season. "It's true I have had a lot of experience playing for my national side and while doing so I have played against a lot of the players who are here," Al-Muhammadi told Sunderland website. "I'm sure that I can draw on that experience to help me settle in here quickly," the 22-year-old, who played in Egypt's 3-1 friendly defeat by England in March, added.
