ISTANBUL / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu Agency

Ludogorets, which plays in the Bulgarian First Football League, completed on Saturday the signing of Egyptian international defender Hossam Abdel Meguid from Zamalek, without disclosing the duration or value of the contract.

The Bulgarian club said in a statement: "Ludogorets has signed Egyptian international player Hossam Abdel Meguid, and the defender, captain of Zamalek, one of the most successful African clubs, will continue his football career with the 14-time Bulgarian league champions."

It added: "On Saturday, Ludogorets and Egyptian champions (last season's Premier League champions) Zamalek completed the transfer of the player, and Hossam Abdel Meguid successfully passed the medical examinations."

The 25-year-old defender joins Ludogorets after his remarkable performances with Zamalek, where Abdel Meguid played 171 matches in all competitions, scored 15 goals, winning the league title three times, the Egypt Cup twice, and the CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup once each.

Abdel Meguid, who has 15 international caps, was part of the Egyptian national team squad in the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where he made his mark by scoring the decisive penalty against Australia in the round of 16, securing the Pharaohs' qualification to the next round of the tournament.

Due to his participation in the World Cup, Hossam Abdel Meguid was granted a vacation and will join Ludogorets' training camp at the end of the month. By then, the club will have completed all necessary administrative and documentation procedures for his registration with the team.

The Egyptian defender is Ludogorets' second new signing this summer. In early July, the Bulgarian team signed international young player Mikhail Bolindakov from English side Sheffield United.