FC Nordsjalland winger Ernest Asante has become the first signing of Marcel Keizer’s reign at Al Jazira on a two-year contract.
Asante, 29, caught the eye at Right to Dream Park since he was snapped up from Norway’s Stabaek in August 2016. His trophyless two seasons in Denmark’s Superliga produced 21 goals and 13 assists across 66 appearances.
The uncapped Ghanaian will immediately take the place of influential Morocco centre midfielder Mbark Bousoufa in the four-player foreign quota, after the parties failed to agree a contract renewal.
No official announcement has been made yet by ex-Ajax boss Keizer about the futures of Brazilian forward Romarinho, compatriot Leonardo – who spent last term on loan at Saudi Professional League-outfit Al Nassr – or Oman internationals Mohammed Al Musalami and Harib Al Saadi.
“Al Jazira completed the signing of the Ghanaian winger Ernest Asante, and he will join the first football team of Al Jazira as soon as the preparations for the upcoming seasons starts,” read a club statement on Wednesday afternoon.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi are recasting themselves after 2017/18’s Arabian Gulf League title defence ended in a seventh-placed finish.
Revolutionary coach Henk ten Cate retired after he narrowly missed out on a historic quarter-final berth in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Compatriot Keizer was drafted in last month. He’d previously been sacked by Ajax in December 2017.
الجزيرة #فخر_ابوظبي يتعاقد مع الغاني إيرنست اسانتيhttps://t.co/otcMErqEAx
— نادي الجزيرة (@AlJazira_uae) July 4, 2018
Ghanian Winger Ernest Asante Joins Al Jazira Teamhttps://t.co/gd3dG8PS5N pic.twitter.com/XPi5OTO27Q
