Ghana deputy captain Thomas Partey has officially joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab as a free agent.
Partey is reportedly signing a one-year contract that will run through the 2026-27 season, bringing his next move into focus after his campaign with Spanish La Liga side Villarreal.
The transfer marks the 32-year-old’s first move into Asian football. Until now, Partey has spent his entire professional career in Europe, establishing himself as one of Ghana’s most experienced midfielders.
His arrival at Al-Shabab follows a season with Villarreal in 2025-26. The Ghana international had previously played in Spain for Almeria and Atletico de Madrid before earning a major move to the English Premier League.
Partey completed a five-year deal with Arsenal, where he continued to feature at the highest level of European football. His latest transfer means he will now begin a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League after years competing in Europe.
The midfielder has also remained an important figure for Ghana at international level. He played at the FIFA World Cup for the second time in his career when Ghana competed at the 2026 tournament in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
Ghana reached the round of 32, with Partey taking part in three of the Black Stars’ four matches during their campaign.
However, he missed Ghana’s opening fixture against Panama in Canada after being controversially ruled out because of visa problems. Despite that setback, he returned to play a role in the remainder of the tournament and finished the competition with three appearances.
Partey’s move to Al-Shabab therefore combines a new club challenge with the continuation of his international career. The agreement, reported to run for one season, will take him away from European football for the first time since he began his professional career.
His career in Spain included spells with Almeria and Atletico de Madrid, while his five-year contract with Arsenal represented a significant step in his progression. After completing the 2025-26 season at Villarreal, the experienced midfielder will now continue his career in Saudi Arabia.
The transfer also gives Al-Shabab a player with experience of La Liga, the Premier League and the FIFA World Cup. For Partey, it represents his first opportunity to play club football in Asia and the latest stage of a career that has taken him from Spanish football to England, before moving to the Saudi Pro League.
