After his success with Bank Tejarat FC, in 1994 Daei joined one of Tehran’s leading clubs, Persepolis. He went on to score 23 goals in 38 games for the club from 1994 to 1996. Following his impressive performance in the Asian Cup in 1996 he moved to Al Sadd for the 1996-1997 season, before joining Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld in 1997 alongside fellow Iranian national teammate Karim Bagheri.