Zamalek signed Iraqi free agent Emad Mohamed Ridha on a three-year contract; another deal that should reinforce the team's frontline. Former Sepahan Esfahan marksman Emad, the Iran Pro League's top scorer last season with a 19-goal tally, put pen to paper on Friday. The 27-year-old's contract with Esfahan ran out this summer. He moved to Zamalek for an undisclosed fee. He's the third Iraqi footballer to join the Cairo club, where his compatriots Saleh Sedeir and Ahmed Salah used to ply their trade in the 2004-2005 season. Emad, who made his international debut in 2000, played for Qatar's Al-Gharrafa and Iranian club Al-Zawraa among other outfits throughout his career. A couple of days ago, Zamalek had completed the signing of Ivorian hitman Abou Kone from Military Production.
Kone The White Knights put Ghanaian midfielder Rahim Ayew up for sale. They are also expected to offload Ivorian outcast Remi Adiko in the near future. Zamalek have to dispense with at least one of their foreign players this summer as the rules of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) stipulate that each side are entitled to list only three expatriates in their roster. Having landed Emad and Kone, Zamalek exceeded the maximum limit. Zamalek suffered lack of bona fide strikers during the second half of last term after Amr Zaki and Mido moved to Hull City and West Ham United respectively. Over the past months, head coach Hossam Hassan depended on a lone striker in Ahmed Gaafar and rarely fielded Sherif Ashraf, who recently moved to Gouna. Zaki, who notched up his last goal at club level in December 2008, returned to Zamalek after ending a dull loan spell with Hull. With the arrival of Kone and Emad, the Bulldozer doesn't guarantee a starting berth with five-time African champions next season.
