Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab has officially announced the acquisition of Ghanaian international midfielder Thomas Partey, bringing a high-profile but controversial player to the Middle East’s increasingly ambitious football circuit.
The 33-year-old defensive midfielder arrives at the Riyadh-based club after a five-year spell with English Premier League outfit Arsenal, where he notched 167 first-team appearances between his 2020 transfer from Atletico Madrid and his departure in 2025. After leaving Arsenal, Partey spent a short period at La Liga side Villarreal, but the Spanish club opted against extending his contract this summer, leaving him eligible to sign as a free agent for Al-Shabab.
Partey’s transfer goes ahead despite ongoing high-stakes legal proceedings hanging over the player. He is scheduled to face trial in the UK next year, after entering a plea of not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The charges stem from allegations made by four separate complainants, with the alleged incidents dated between 200 and 2022.
This is not the first time Partey’s legal situation has disrupted his football career in recent months. During this summer’s FIFA World Cup held in Canada, Partey was barred from entering the country ahead of Ghana’s opening group stage match against Panama. The entry denial was directly tied to his pending UK criminal charges. When applying for entry, Partey incorrectly claimed to Canadian border officials that he had never been arrested or charged with any criminal offense. Following resolution of entry logistics for the remainder of the tournament, Partey was allowed to join his teammates and featured in Ghana’s three subsequent group and knockout matches. The Black Stars were ultimately eliminated in the round of 32 by Colombia.
For Al-Shabab, the signing comes at a difficult start to their 2024-25 domestic campaign. The club finished 13th in the 16-team Saudi Pro League table last season, and dropped all three points in their opening fixture of the current term. The squad already features a number of recognizable European-based imports, including former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill and ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence.
Partey, who has earned 61 senior caps for Ghana throughout his international career, becomes the latest high-profile player to make the move to the Saudi Pro League, which has continued to attract top talent from European leagues amid heavy investment from the region’s sports stakeholders.