Hadi Riyad, the new defender for Al Ahly Club, revealed the details and behind-the-scenes of his transfer to the Red Castle during the current winter transfer window, confirming that wearing the red jersey had been a dream of his since childhood.

Al Ahly club signed Hadi Riad from Petrojet on a three-and-a-half-year contract as part of the team's reinforcements during the current January transfer window.

The player explained, in statements to Al-Ahly's official website, that his name had been considered among the defensive options in previous periods, but official negotiations began in January. He noted that Sayed Abdelhafiz was the first Al-Ahly official to contact him through a friendly call, during which he confirmed the club's insistence on signing him and appreciated his desire to wear the red jersey.

Hadi Riyad added that he received several offers from inside and outside Egypt, but his first and last desire was to play for Al Ahly and fulfill his childhood dream. He emphasized that the feeling he had when entering the club for the first time was indescribable, as it brought back memories of his childhood and his old dream.

The new Al Ahly defender affirmed that he looks forward to winning all championships with the team, whether the Egyptian League or the African Champions League, in addition to participating in the Club World Cup and striving to achieve a new accomplishment to add to the club's history.

Hadi Riyad spoke about the great support he received from his colleagues since joining, explaining that Karim Fouad was the first to welcome him. He had also previously communicated with Mohamed Magdy Afsha before his move to Al Ittihad Alexandria, and Mohamed Sherif.

The player also expressed his love for the atmosphere of Al-Ahly fans in the stands and his enjoyment of chanting the team's songs. He confirmed that Wael Gomaa is his local role model, while the Spanish Carlos Puyol is his global idol, with his support for FC Barcelona.

Hadi Riyad concluded his speech with a heartfelt message to Al-Ahly fans, emphasizing that he was a supporter of the team before becoming a player and was greatly affected by the loss of championships. He stressed that the fans are the 12th player, expressing his hope to always meet their expectations.