Ghana international defender Issahaku Yakubu has sealed a permanent move to Libyan heavyweights Al-Ahli Tripoli, ending his long stay in Egypt with National Bank of Egypt SC.
The agreement was struck in the dying moments of the Libyan winter transfer window on Friday, with the Tripoli outfit reportedly paying around USD 600,000 to buy out the remaining year and a half on the 31-year-old’s contract.
Yakubu, fondly nicknamed “Leftey,” departs Cairo after four and a half productive seasons that quietly turned him into one of the league’s most reliable left-sided outlets.
He initially arrived in September 2021 from Wadi Degla SC following a standout spell that yielded 82 appearances, two goals and 12 assists. At National Bank, he grew into a mainstay, racking up 143 games, three goals and 20 assists across competitions.
This campaign, the experienced wide man has been among National Bank’s most consistent performers, logging 14 league outings and finding the net three times as the club climbed into ninth place with 21 points from 15 matches. His departure closes a steady chapter for the Cairo side, who leaned heavily on his engine, delivery from deep and tactical discipline down the flank.
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For Al-Ahli Tripoli, Yakubu’s arrival brings instant know-how and balance. Comfortable as a traditional left-back and equally at ease pushing higher as a winger, he offers both defensive cover and a direct attacking threat from wide areas.
The Libyan giants have been busy reshaping their squad this window, also dipping into the Egyptian market for Blati Toure and Mustafa Shakshak as they chase domestic dominance.
Yakubu’s career path has spanned continents. Before carving out his name in Egypt, he tested himself in Europe with Lierse S.K. and GS Ergotelis, experiences that shaped the modern, high-energy full-back Al-Ahli Tripoli are now banking on.
