“Mostafa, 16, is a promising midfielder. He has good individual skills,” Zamalek said on their website.

Zamalek also announced they have signed 17-year-old right-back Mahmoud Refai from second-division side Smouha.

The Cairo giants are looking to build up a youth academy that has for so long failed to promote talented players to the first team.

In doing so, Zamalek turned their attention towards the academy of arch-rivals Ahli.

The White Knights signed youngster Sherif Ashraf from Ahli in the summer of 2007, but the diminutive striker did not live up to expectations.