Partey signs for Al-Shabab in Saudi Pro League

What the report says

Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab have confirmed the signing of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, according to BBC Sport Football. The move brings the 33-year-old former Arsenal player to Saudi Arabia after he became a free agent this summer when Villarreal chose not to renew his contract. BBC Sport notes that Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal between 2020 and 2025 and has been capped 61 times by Ghana.

The report also places the transfer against a serious legal backdrop. Partey is scheduled to stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the allegations said to relate to four women and incidents between 2020 and 2022. BBC Sport also says that, during this summer’s World Cup, he was refused entry to Canada before Ghana’s opening match because of the criminal proceedings in the UK.

Al-Shabab finished 13th in the Saudi Pro League last season and lost their opening match of the current campaign. The squad already includes former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill and ex-Wolves winger Daniel Podence. The transfer adds another high-profile name to a league that has continued to attract established international players, while the legal case remains a significant issue surrounding Partey’s career.