Cologne defender Youssef Mohamad has said he has signed a two-year contract with Dubai side Al-Ahli so he can be closer to his family. "I have signed, I wanted to be near my family," the Lebanese international was quoted as saying by Bild. Cologne have yet to confirm the deal, but Portuguese defender Henrique Sereno, 26, of FC Porto, has already passed a medical at the Bundesliga club and is expected to be Mohamad's replacement. Mohamad, who was the Cologne captain, insists there is no other reason for his sudden departure than a desire to be with his family. "There is only one reason - my family need me and I need them," said the 31-year-old. "It takes just over two hours to fly from Dubai to my home in Lebanon. "There are more important things in life than money."