The suspect defence of President’s Cup holders Al Jazira has received a significant boost after they confirmed the long-expected transfer of UAE right-back Mohammed Fawzi on Tuesday.

The Pride of Abu Dhabi have been locked in negotiations with Al Ain for the 26-year-old since the end of last season. This was originally meant to be a double deal which featured their former charge Ibrahim Diaky, but a U-turn was performed last week because of imminent 2016 AFC Champions League quarter-final commitments.

Fawzi will now arrive at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on a multi-year deal once the ongoing national team training camp in Spain concludes next week.

A transfer for the Al Ahli youth product will go a long way to improving a defence which was the third worst in the Arabian Gulf League last term for the seventh-placed finishers, with 50 goals conceded from 26 games.

It will also provide Fawzi with regular first-team football after he started just three more times in the top flight after February 18’s 2-1 home loss against Al Shabab.

In total, he appeared 26 times in the league since his July 2014 switch from Bani Yas. During this spell, the 2014/15 AGL and 2015 Arabian Gulf Super Cup crowns were lifted.