Arabian Gulf League club Al Nasr has signed footballer Diaa Saba, making him the first Israeli footballer to play professionally at an Arab Club.
The signing comes two weeks after the UAE normalized ties with Israel, in a landmark peace agreement.
Saba will join Al Nasr on a two-year contract from Chinese Super Club League team Guangzhou R&F for a reported 2.5 million euros.
Al Nasr tweeted the news showing footage of Saba wearing his no. 9 jersey while showing off his skills at the club’s Al Maktoum Stadium.
أهلاً بك ضياء محمد سبع في القلعة الزرقاء
Welcome Diaa Mohamed Saba to the blue castle #نادي_النصر#Alnasr_club pic.twitter.com/3mvqcdMcXv— AL-NASR FC (@ALNasrSC) September 27, 2020
You can read the full story via the Al Nasr website.
Saba – who is of Palenstinian origin – was born in northern Israel and played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2012. He has played for several Israeli clubs, including Maccabi Netanya. He has ten caps for the Israeli national team.
And this isn’t the only bit of good football news to come from the landmark Abraham Accord peace treaty between the UAE and Israel.
Word is that we will see more players move between regional leagues, as well as a potential Emirati businessman investing in an Israeli football club. According to Bloomberg, that club might just be Beitar Jerusalam.
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