Born: 10 November 1984
Place: Banha, Egypt
Height: -
Weight: -
Blades Debut: 10 February 2007 v Tottenham (sub) (won 2-1)
| Career Details: | Apps: | Goals: | |
| 2003-07 | Ismaily SC | - | - |
| 2007-?? | Sheffield United | - | - |
Total | - | - | |
Egyptian Ahmed Fathi made history when he came the first Egyptian to sign for a Premiership team directly from an Egyptian club. The international joined Sheffield United from Ismaily in January 2007 for a reported fee of £700,000 and signing a contract until July 2010.
Initially a right-winger Fathi can also play in Defence and in a central Midfield role which he has done against Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton.
He started his career in his homeland with Ismaily Sporting Club in March 2003 and went onto become a full Egyptian international, winning to date 17 caps in the process.
Prior to that Fathi rose through the youth ranks and was part of the Egyptian team that won the African Youth Cup in 2003 and in the first team that won the African Nations Cup in 2005 in Cairo when they beat the Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.
He won his first cap aged just seventeen and became the youngest player at that time to represent his County.
Whilst with Ismaily, the Egyptian club were runners-up in the African Champions League in 2003 after losing to Nigerian outfit Enyimba 2-1 on aggregate. Along the way he scored goals against AS Port Louis 2000 (won 6-0) and at Esperence (won 3-1).
In December 2006 Fathi came to Bramall Lane on a two week trail, and impressed so much that he was snapped up by Neil Warnock a month later on 24 January 2007. He had previously in April 2004 been on trial with English Premiership giants Arsenal.
He made his Sheffield United debut on 10 February against Tottenham Hotspur, replacing Colin Kazim-Richards as a substitute on 72nd minute. By that time the Blades were 2-1 up with Rob Hulse and Phil Jagielka (penalty), cancelling Jermaine Jenas very early strike.
Two weeks later he made his full debut in a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, on the other side Javier Mascherano made his debut for the Anfield club having completed his move from West Ham United.
Whilst with the South Yorkshire club he has already played one international match, in friendly to celebrate 50 years the formation of the African Football Confederation (CAF) in February 2007, Fathi netted with two minutes remaining to complete a 2-0 home victory over Sweden.