For many footballers, a first goal at a new club is more than just getting on the scoresheet. It’s a statement, a confidence boost, and often the beginning of an unforgettable journey. From Mohamed Salah’s early days in Switzerland to Omar Marmoush’s breakthrough in Germany and Hamza Abdelkarim’s dream start at Barcelona, here are some of the first goals that marked the beginning of exciting chapters in Egyptian footballers’ careers abroad.
Hamza Abdelkarim Scores His First Goals for Barcelona Against Birmingham (2026)
Shortly after completing his move to Barcelona, Hamza Abdelkarim announced himself in style by scoring twice in a friendly against Birmingham City. The young Egyptian delivered a standout performance, giving fans an early glimpse of his talent and continuing his impressive rise at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Emam Ashour Scores His First Goal for FC Midtjylland against Viborg (2023)
Emam Ashour opened his scoring account for FC Midtjylland in style by netting his first goal for the Danish club against Viborg in 2023. The Egyptian midfielder found the back of the net just weeks after completing his move from Zamalek, marking an important milestone in his first European adventure and giving fans an early glimpse of the attacking quality he would bring to the team.
Omar Marmoush Scores His First Goal for Wolfsburg Against Carl Zeiss Jena (2022)
Omar Marmoush netted his first goal for Wolfsburg on July 30, 2022, during a 1-0 victory over Carl Zeiss Jena in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. The strike proved to be the match-winner and marked an ideal start to his Wolfsburg journey after returning to the club.
Omar Marmoush Scores His First Goal for Manchester City Against Newcastle United (2025)
Omar Marmoush scored his first goal for Manchester City in February 15, 2025, during a 4–0 Premier League victory against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium. The Egyptian forward’s strike showcased the pace and composure that earned him his move to City, giving fans an early taste of what he could bring to Pep Guardiola’s attack as he began a new chapter in England.
Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” – First Goal for Aston Villa vs. Liverpool (2019)
Trezeguet scored his first Aston Villa goal against defending European champions Liverpool in the Premier League. The Egyptian winger gave Villa the lead at Villa Park, becoming the first Egyptian to score a Premier League goal for the club, although Liverpool eventually came back to win 2-1.
Mohamed Elneny Scored His First Goal for Basel vs. Zürich (2014)
After joining Basel from Arab Contractors in 2013, Mohamed Elneny scored his first goal for the Swiss club on April 16, 2014. He netted Basel’s fourth goal in a 4-2 league victory over Zürich at St. Jakob-Park, helping seal the win during his first full season in Switzerland.
Mohamed Elneny Scores His First Goal for Arsenal Against Barcelona (2016)
Mohamed Elneny scored his first goal for Arsenal in unforgettable fashion against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on March 16, 2016. The Egyptian midfielder unleashed a stunning long-range strike at Camp Nou to briefly level the score, marking his first goal for the Gunners with one of the most memorable finishes of his career. Although Arsenal were eliminated from the competition, Elneny’s spectacular effort remains one of the club’s standout Champions League goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qIkyhYLLkA
Mohamed Salah Scores His First Goal for Basel Against Lausanne Sport (2012)
Mohamed Salah scored his first goal for Basel in a 2-0 Swiss Super League victory over Lausanne Sport in 2012. The goal came in just his third appearance after joining the Swiss side from Arab Contractors, offering an early sign of the impact he would go on to make in European football.
Mohamed Salah Scores His First Goal for Chelsea Against Arsenal (2014)
Mohamed Salah opened his scoring account for Chelsea in memorable fashion by finding the net against Arsenal in March 2014. Coming off the bench at Stamford Bridge, the Egyptian winger rounded goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny before slotting home Chelsea’s sixth goal in a dominant 6-0 Premier League victory. It was Salah’s first goal for the Blues and an early glimpse of the finishing ability that would later make him one of the world’s best forwards.
Mohamed Salah Scores His First Goal for Liverpool Against Watford (2017)
Mohamed Salah wasted no time making an impact at Liverpool, scoring his first goal for the Reds on his Premier League debut against Watford in August 2017. The Egyptian forward calmly finished past the goalkeeper in an entertaining 3-3 draw, marking the start of what would become one of the greatest goalscoring careers in the club’s history.
Every successful career has a starting point, and for these Egyptian stars, their first goals abroad became memorable milestones. While some would go on to become global icons and others are only beginning their journeys, these moments marked the start of exciting new chapters on the international stage.
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