Ahli's official web site stated that the club's marketing manager Adli Al-Qaeyi returned from England after finalizing the deal with Sheffield over the transfer of the Egypt defender.

The 23-year old should be unveiled by the Cairo club in the next few days, but he will be ineligible to play before the transfer window opens in January.

However, Ahli have an option to loan him out to a non-Egyptian club until he is available for registration in the winter break.

Fathi, who has been unsettled at Sheffield since the arrival of new coach Bryan Robson, recently rejected an offer from Ahli's arch rivals Zamalek.