TEHRANTIMES - Esteghlal midfielder Ferydoon Zandi penned a deal with second division Qatari football club Al Ahli on Saturday.

The Al Ahli’s officials signed a contract with Zandi after Brazilian Daniel Rossi da Silva apologized for not joining the team.  

The 33-year-old was a member of the Iranian football team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Zarandi has played for Bundesliga Kaiserslautern 45 times and scored six goals.

He joined Apollon Limassol of Cyprus in 2007 and also played in Olympiakos Nicosia and Alki Larnaca of the country.

Iran’s Steel Azin signed him in 2009 but the Tehran-based team relegated from the professional league two years later.

Zandi joined Esteghlal in August 2011 and helped the team win Iran’s Hazfi Cup.