UAE midfielder Habib Fardan is set to complete a big-money switch from Al Nasr to Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli.

The 23-year-old is currently in Austria with Mahdi Ali’s national team, but has agreed a four-year contract with last season’s treble winners and is expected to officially sign in the next few days.

The Red Knights have beaten off long-standing interest from Al Jazira to secure the player.

A fee has been agreed for a transfer which will also see Al Ahli defender Esam Dhahi move the other way in part-exchange.

Fardan has only one year remaining on his contract at the Al-Maktoum Stadium, meaning he would have been able to agree a free-transfer move from January. Nasr had been confident of keeping the player as late as last week, but have decided to cash in with Fardan making it clear he would not sign an extension with the Blue Wave.

“The two teams are in very advanced talks at the highest level of both clubs,” a high-ranking Al Nasr official told Sport360.

“Fardan has proven to be an excellent investment for us as we picked him up for little money as a young player from Al Wasl.

“It is clear he will go for one of the biggest transfer fees received for an Emirati player.

“It is our policy to try and negotiate a sale when a player has one year remaining on their contract and we are unable to agree a new one.

“We are very happy for the time he played for our club. He leaves us after winning the GGC Club Cup, and that is a perfect way to end things.”