Manchester City sign Egyptian star Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt | Football news
After weeks of speculation, Marmoush has agreed a deal to stay with the Premier League champions until the summer of 2029.
Manchester City announced the signing of the Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush for a reported initial fee of about $72.6 million.
“The 25-year-old Egyptian striker has completed a move to the Etihad Stadium on a four-and-a-half-year deal, which will see him stay at the club until the summer of 2029,” City said in a statement on Thursday.
“This is a day I will never forget,” Marmoush said after signing for the English Premier League champions.
“Signing for Manchester City – one of the best teams in the world – is an incredible feeling. I am delighted, my family are so proud and we are all very happy to be here in Manchester.
“With Pep, his technical staff and the world-class facilities here, the players have everything they need to improve. That was really tempting for me when I had the opportunity to come here.”
Marmoush is City’s third signing in the January transfer window after the arrival of defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.
The former Bundesliga star’s contract is understood to include a potential additional $5 million in add-ons
Our new number 7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/jyahrzq5Nr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 23, 2025
Born in Cairo in 1999, Marmoush stood out early in the academy of Wadi Degla club in the Egyptian Premier League. At the age of 17, he was promoted to the first team, and a year later he joined Wolfsburg’s reserve team.
At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially struggled for consistency and playing time, resulting in loan spells at St Pauli and Stuttgart.
The forward moved to Frankfurt on a free transfer before the 2023-2024 season. and scored 12 goals in 29 league games.
Marmoush’s development has drawn the inevitable comparisons with his compatriot Mohamed Salah, but the Liverpool superstar cautioned against such correlations.
“Omar has great potential and is an important player for his team and the national team at the moment, but I hope we stay away from the idea of comparisons because it will put him under pressure,” Salah said in November.
“Don’t compare him to me. Don’t say ‘the new Mohamed Salah’. Let him live his career. Comparing a player at the beginning of his career with a player who has achieved a lot over the years does not help him.”
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said Marmoush was a “successful and exciting striker”.
“He’s had an outstanding season and every time we’ve watched him, he’s had an impact on games,” he said.
“He has all the attributes that a top striker needs. He has extraordinary pace and awareness, he is exceptional in front of goal. He can also play in a number of different positions, which is a really valuable asset.”
His arrival at the Etihad Stadium comes during a frustrating season for City.
City, champions for the last four seasons, are currently fifth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played a game more.
Defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday also left Pep Guardiola’s side in danger of missing out on the knockout stages of the Champions League.
