Ethiopia international and Petrojet captain Shimelis Bekele has completed a move to Mist El-Makhasa, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The 28-year-old had been at Petrojet since July 2014, when he joined them from Sudanese side Al Merreikh, making over 130 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals and assisting 10.

This season, he has been one of Petrojet’s key players as he scored seven goals and assisted three in 16 games across all competitions.

However, when Misr El-Makkasa approached Bekele, the player became unsettled at the club and agreed to join the Fayoum-based side, signing a deal until July 2023.

He joined El-Makkasa as Eric Traore’s replacement after the Burkinabe moved to Pyramids in the January transfer window for a fee around €2,65 million.

Bekele started his career at Ethipioan side Hawassa Kenema, before moving to Saint George in 2011. He spent two-and-a-half years at the Ethiopian giants, before moving to Al Merreikh of Sudan and then Petrojet.

On the international level, he has represented Ethiopia 34 times, scoring seven goals, featuring for them in the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

Bekele becomes Misr El-Makkasa’s first winter signing, while on the other hand, they let go of three of their players, Eric Traoré, Omar Bassam and Mahmoud Wahid.

The Ethiopian could make his debut for El-Makkasa when they face Arab Contractors on Tuesday in the Egyptian Premier League.

Misr El-Makkasa are currently fourth on the league table, while Arab Contractors sit fifth, one point behind them.

Kingfut: