Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab on a free transfer, completing his move to Saudi Arabia on Friday, August 21, 2026, after travelling to the country to finalise the deal.

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The transfer was first reported by transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who said Partey had travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to complete the move. Al Shabab subsequently confirmed the signing.

Partey, 33, arrives at Al Shabab after his contract with Villarreal expired. The Ghana international spent the 2025/26 season with the Spanish club after leaving Arsenal.

The move gives Partey a fresh challenge in the Saudi Pro League and brings considerable European experience to Al Shabab’s midfield.

The Ghanaian previously established himself at Atlético Madrid before joining Arsenal in 2020. He spent five seasons with the Premier League club before moving to Villarreal as a free agent.

At Arsenal, Partey made 130 appearances and scored nine goals, becoming an important presence in the centre of midfield during his time in north London.

His arrival also adds experience to an Al Shabab squad being reshaped under German coach Thomas Letsch. The Saudi Pro League’s official transfer tracker lists several new arrivals for the club this summer as the side prepares for the 2026/27 campaign.

For Partey, the transfer represents another chapter in a career that has taken him from Ghana to Spain, England and back into European football before his move to Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder will also remain an important figure for Ghana as the Black Stars look ahead to upcoming international commitments.

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Partey’s switch to Al Shabab is therefore more than a change of scenery. It offers the experienced midfielder an opportunity to continue playing at a high level while bringing his considerable top-flight experience to a Saudi club with ambitions for the new season.