Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab from Villarreal on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old defensive midfielder has signed a contract running until 30 June 2027, bringing an end to his one-year spell with Villarreal. Partey moved to the Spanish club from Arsenal on a free transfer on 7 August 2025.
Partey returns to a league he knows well after making 188 La Liga appearances, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists. He first established himself in Spain with Atletico Madrid, where he won the Europa League in 2017-18 and the Spanish title in 2020-21.
His move to Arsenal in October 2020 was completed for €50m, following five seasons with Atletico. Partey made 130 Premier League appearances for the London club, scoring nine goals and registering five assists, while also featuring 49 times in the Champions League.
He won the English Super Cup with Arsenal in 2023-24 and was part of Atletico’s side that finished as Champions League runners-up in 2015-16. He also lifted the Uefa Super Cup with the Spanish club in 2018-19.
Partey’s latest transfer takes him to Saudi Arabia after his season in La Liga with Villarreal. Al-Shabab will be his fourth senior club in Spain, having also spent time with Almeria and Mallorca on loan earlier in his career before establishing himself at Atletico.
The midfielder has represented Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, starting 75% of the national side’s possible matches during the tournament and playing 75% of the available minutes. He has remained a regular at international level while continuing his club career across Spain and England.
Partey, who is right-footed and stands 1.85m tall, joins Al-Shabab with a market value of €2m and brings experience from the Premier League, La Liga and European competition. His career also includes 22 Europa League appearances and a Europa League winner’s medal from his time at Atletico.
The move was completed on 21 August 2026, with Partey leaving Villarreal to begin a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League.
