Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has officially begun a new chapter of his career in Saudi Arabia. The 33-year-old has joined Al-Shabab on a free transfer after leaving Villarreal when his contract expired.

At Al-Shabab, Partey will link up with a number of familiar faces from European football, including former Atletico Madrid team-mate Yannick Carrasco and French midfielder Yacine Adli. His arrival adds further experience and pedigree to a squad that already features several players with backgrounds in Europe's top leagues.

Partey spent five seasons at Arsenal after making a high-profile move from Atletico Madrid in 2020. The Premier League club paid around €50 million for the Ghana international, who went on to make 130 appearances and score nine goals for the Gunners across all competitions.

His spell in England followed an impressive period in Spain, where Partey established himself as an important player under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid. He later returned to La Liga with Villarreal, making 32 appearances during the 2025/26 campaign before the club decided against extending his contract.