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Everything changed in the summer of 2018 when Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh, then chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority, acquired the club, relocated it to Cairo and rebranded it as Pyramids FC, instantly turning the modest side into one of the continent’s most ambitious football projects.

A year later, ownership changed hands again after Emirati businessman Salem Al Shamsi took over in 2019, maintaining the club’s ambitious vision of challenging Egyptian football’s traditional giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek.

The spending spree that stunned African football

Few clubs have reshaped the African transfer market the way Pyramids did following their takeover.

The Egyptian side immediately flexed their financial muscle, embarking on one of the most expensive recruitment drives ever witnessed on the continent.

During the 2018 transfer window alone, the club reportedly spent close to €33 million, equivalent to approximately Ksh5.1 billion, while their total expenditure on player recruitment eventually surpassed €50 million, translating to nearly Ksh7.8 billion.

The spending spree sent shockwaves across African football and established Pyramids as one of the continent’s biggest spenders.

The club’s headline acquisition was Brazilian winger Marcos Keno, who joined from Palmeiras in a deal worth €8.5 million (approximately Ksh1.33 billion), a transfer that remains one of the most expensive ever completed by an African club.

Pyramids continued to make headlines by signing Peruvian international Cristian Benavente from Royal Charleroi for €6 million (around Ksh936 million), Brazilian forward Carlos Eduardo from Goiás for €5.4 million (approximately Ksh842 million), Brazilian midfielder Rodriguinho from Corinthians for €5.1 million (about Ksh796 million) and Ecuadorian striker Jhon Cifuente from Universidad Católica for €4.35 million (roughly Ksh679 million), underlining the club’s willingness to spend heavily in pursuit of success.

Steady rise into Egypt’s elite

The heavy investment quickly translated into results. Within a few seasons, Pyramids had established themselves among the country’s elite clubs, consistently competing with Al Ahly and Zamalek for major honours.