For the first time, a footballer from Israel will play in an Arab league.
Diaa Sabia, 27, signed this Sunday at Al-Nasr club in Dubai a two-year contract, for an amount of around 2.6 million euros.
The player has been playing since January 2019 in Guangzhou, in the Chinese Super League.
"Welcome to Diaa Sabia at the blue citadel", wrote the club on his Twitter account, to announce the signing of this international midfielder, who joins in the workforce Ryan Mendes, the former Lille, arrived this summer from from another Emirati club, Sharjah.
Welcome Diaa Mohamed Saba đźđ± to the blue castle đđŠđȘ # ÙۧۯÙ_ۧÙÙ۔۱ # Alnasr_club @ ALNasrSC https://t.co/Tk3NCLg1DC pic.twitter.com/x2xhP8BkGe
- ŰŰłÙ ŰłŰŹÙۧÙÙ đŠđȘ Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) September 27, 2020
This signing follows the announcement of the normalization of relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
A historic agreement was signed on September 15 at the White House.
Of Palestinian origin, Diaa Sabia was born in the Arab town of Majd al-Krum in northern Israel.
He played among the youngsters of the Beitar Nes Tubruk club before joining Maccabi Tel-Aviv in 2012. He was then transferred to various clubs including Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Bnei Sakhnin and Maccabi Petah Tikva before signing in 2014 with Maccabi. Netanya for 2.5 million euros.
The player scored 50 goals during 111 matches played in different competitions (24 goals during the 2018 season), before being selected for the national team (8 matches, 3 goals).
His transfer to Guangzhou reached 5 million euros, making the Israeli footballer the most expensive in the history of his country.
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