ABU DHABI // After vehemently denying a move to Al Ahli over the weekend, Al Jazira midfielder Khamis Esmail crossed over to the Dubai club for an undisclosed amount on a three-and-a-half-year deal on Monday.
The UAE international’s departure comes at a time when Jazira are trying to rebuild their squad under their new Dutch coach Henk ten Cate in the second half of the season.
Esmail, 26, has featured in only eight Arabian Gulf League games this season after lateral ligament damage in their 3-2 win over city rivals Al Wahda had him out of action for more than 10 weeks.
His return on the Boxing Day match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Al Dhafra, a result that cost Brazilian manager Abel Braga his job. Esmail was then left on the bench in the 2-2 draw against Al Wasl in Ten Cate’s first game in charge on January 8.
The Emirati’s transfer deal was to be a player-exchange agreement with Habib Fardan and Eisa Ahmed set to move to Jazira but that no longer seems to be on the cards.
Officials at the club when contacted declined to comment on Esmail’s transfer and a player-exchange deal.
Esmail arrived at Jazira from Emirates Club in 2011 and played a key role for the club, helping them win a maiden league title and the President’s Cup twice.
However, his standing with the club has declined in recent times after an argument with his agent concerning payments resulted in a short-term suspension by UAE Football Association.
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