Al Ain forward Jires Kembo Ekoko has joined Qatari club El Jaish on a season-long loan after finding himself surplus to requirements at the UAE champions.
Ekoko joined Al Ain from Rennes last summer, but the arrival of Brazilian Michel Bastos and the Arabian Gulf League’s foreign quota rule means there isn’t room in the squad for the Frenchman.
Ekoko’s loan move comes after El Jaish were on the lookout for a forward following the sudden and tragic death of Ecuadorian striker Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez in July.
The former Birmingham City front-man died of heart failure shortly after completing a $15 million move to the Doha-based club.
El Jaish were in line to sign Benin international Stephane Sessegnon after agreeing a fee with Sunderland, but the 29-year-old opted to remain in the Premier League and completed a switch to West Bromwich Albion on transfer deadline day.
– Kenny Laurie: Why Al Ain won’t have it all their own way in the Arabian Gulf League
Ekoko’s maiden season in the UAE proved to be an inconsistent one for the forward. At times, the 25-year-old was capable of match-winning performances and he came to the fore when star striker Asamoah Gyan was on international duty during the African Cup of Nations.
But a return of just nine goals and a series of sub-standard displays meant he was always likely to be the player sacrificed when Bastos made his move to the Garden City.
Prior to his move to El Jaish, Ekoko was attracting interest from a hots of clubs across Europe including, Sport360⁰ were informed, Scottish champions Celtic.
El Jaish head into the new season with designs on the Qatar Stars League title after finishing third last season behind champions Al Sadd – the club of Real Madrid legend Raul – and two-time winners Lekhwiya.
El Jaish are the current holders of the Qatari Stars Cup and are currently in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, although they need to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande to reach the last-four.
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