PETALING JAYA: Selangor have made an early reinforcement before the opening of the second transfer window on Aug 26 by signing forward Ali Olwan (pic) from Jordan.
The 24-year-old ambidextrous player from Qatar club Al-Shamal is known for his dribbling and attacking abilities.
He is the fifth player from Jordan in the Red Giants team. He will reunite with his former teammates – midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh and striker Reziq Bani Hani and two others in Yazan Al-Arab and Bahaa Abdelrahma.
Olwan is delighted to join the Red Giants, although he knows of the bigger demands and responsibility as an import player in the Malaysian League.
“Being an import player is quite difficult but I am confident with the choice that I have made,” said Olwan.
“I have watched a few matches in the Malaysian league and I’m looking forward to bring more changes in the team.
“I’m also confident with the club based on what Yazan, Al-Rawabdeh, Bahaa and Reziq have experienced with Selangor.
“They respect the players and they are professional in managing a lot of things, which are important to me. InshaaAllah, I will do my best with my abilities to help the team this season.”
Olwan is highly rated in Asia and had played with the Jordanian national football team since 2020, earning 44 caps and scoring 12 goals.
Olwan was instrumental in leading his nation to the final of the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year, only to lose to hosts Qatar 1-3 at the Lusail Stadium on Feb 10.
He also has the experience of playing against Malaysia when he scored a hattrick in Jordan’s 4-0 friendly win in 2021.
Olwan has also featured for the Jordanian club Al-Jazeera and Qatari sides Al-Shamal and Al-Khor.
The other foreigners in the Selangor team are Chilean striker Ronnie Fernandez, Venezuelan playmaker Yohandry Orozco, Singaporean international centreback Safuwan Baharuddin, Uzbekistani international centreback Umar Eshmuroddov, Ghanaian midfielder Alex Agyarkwa, and Cape Verdean winger Alvin Fortes.
