theglobalsun – Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab have confirmed the signing of Ghana international Thomas Partey. The midfielder joins the Saudi side after becoming a free agent following his departure from Villarreal.
Partey spent five seasons with Arsenal between 2020 and 2025. He made 167 appearances for the Gunners during his time at the Premier League club.
The Ghana international originally joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020. Arsenal paid approximately £45 million for the defensive midfielder at the time.
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Partey left Arsenal when his contract expired in June 2025. He subsequently joined Villarreal on a free transfer and continued playing in European competition.
His spell at Villarreal ended when the Spanish club decided against extending his contract. Partey was therefore available as a free agent before completing his move to Al-Shabab.
The 33-year-old now begins a new chapter in Saudi Arabia. His career has previously included substantial experience in Spain, England, and international football with Ghana.
Partey established himself as an important midfielder during his Arsenal career. He played a central role in the team’s midfield during several Premier League campaigns.
His career also includes extensive experience with Atlético Madrid. He made 188 appearances for the Spanish club and helped them win the Europa League in 2018.
The move to Al-Shabab comes while Partey remains involved in ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault.
The allegations involve four different women and relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2022. Partey denies all the charges and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A court has scheduled his trial for 2027 following developments in the case. The proceedings remain active, and the allegations have not been determined by a criminal trial.
Partey’s World Cup Campaign Was Affected by Canadian Entry Decision
Partey’s legal case also affected his involvement with Ghana during the 2026 World Cup. Canadian authorities denied him entry before Ghana’s opening match against Panama.
A Canadian judge subsequently rejected Partey’s appeal against the immigration decision. The case involved the criminal charges pending against him in the United Kingdom.
Court documents showed that Partey had answered no when asked whether he had previously been charged with a criminal offence. The information became relevant to his attempt to enter Canada for the tournament.
Partey subsequently played for Ghana in matches held in the United States. He was available for the team’s games against England and Croatia during the group stage.
Ghana ultimately progressed beyond the group stage before losing to Colombia in the last 32. Partey’s participation came despite the circumstances surrounding his ongoing legal proceedings.
His move to Al-Shabab now adds another stage to his lengthy professional career. The Saudi club finished 13th in the Saudi Pro League last season.
Al-Shabab also lost their opening league match of the current campaign. The club’s squad includes several players with previous experience in English football.
Former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill is part of the Al-Shabab squad. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence also plays for the Saudi club.
Partey brings considerable experience to a team seeking improvement after its 13th-place finish. His previous experience at Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, and international level adds significant senior experience.
The midfielder will now begin his time in the Saudi Pro League while his legal proceedings continue in Britain. His future on the pitch will remain closely connected to developments both at Al-Shabab and in the ongoing court case.
