SEVILLE, Spain: Ivan Rakitic is the latest soccer player to leave Europe for Saudi Arabia, moving from Spanish club Sevilla to Al-Shabab.
Sevilla announced the deal on Tuesday, ending the Croatian’s stint with the club after 323 appearances over two separate periods.
Financial details of the move were not immediately available.
The 35-year-old Rakitic played for Sevilla from 2011-14 before being sold to Barcelona, where the midfielder stayed until returning in 2020.
Rakitic is the player with the second most official appearances in the current Sevilla squad, after Jesús Navas. He is the international player with the most appearances for the club, and the only one to have surpassed the 300-game mark.
Rakitic helped Sevilla win two Europa League titles, in 2014 and 2023.
“Everyone at the club would like to thank Ivan Rakitic, one of the most decorated and loved players in our history, for all his effort and dedication over the years, and wish him every success in the future,” the club said in a statement.
Sevilla are struggling this season and sit just outside the relegation zone in the Spanish league. They have only one win in their last 16 league games and are coming off elimination in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
The club’s next match is at Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Monday.
Belgium international Yannick Carrasco, a former Atletico Madrid midfielder, joined Al-Shabab last year.
Many top players have left Europe for lucrative deals with Saudi clubs, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema.
Rakitic ends second stint with Spanish club Sevilla to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia
https://arab.news/jufrn
Rakitic ends second stint with Spanish club Sevilla to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia
- The 35-year-old Rakitic played for Sevilla from 2011-14 before being sold to Barcelona
- He helped Sevilla win two Europa League titles, in 2014 and 2023
Al-Ahli win again to climb to second in Saudi Pro League table
- The reigning Asian champions continued their recent improved domestic form with a 3-0 win at Neom
DUBAI: Al-Ahli on Saturday night continued their hot streak of form to climb to second in the Saudi Pro League table with a comfortable 3-0 away win against 10-man Neom.
The latest victory means the reigning AFC Champions League winners have now won seven league matches in a row and sit on 40 points from 17 matches, four points behind leaders Al-Hilal and three ahead of third-placed Al-Nassr. However, the two Riyadh teams are yet to play in Matchday 18.
After a scoreless first half, Al-Ahli took the lead from an Ivan Toney penalty on 55 minutes before Neom were left with a mountain to climb after the defender Khalifa Al-Dawsari was sent off six minutes later.
Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Millot confirmed a dominant win for Al-Ahli with two quick-fire strikes in the 64th and 67th minutes. Neom’s defeat sees them drop to 10th in the standings.
Earlier in the day, struggling Al-Shabab’s troubles continued when they could only manage a 0-0 draw against 10-man Khaleej Club, leaving the clubs in 14th and eighth respectively in the table.
In Saturday’s other fixture, two second-half goals by Khalid Al-Ghannam helped Ettifaq to a 2-1 win against Al-Kholood in Ar Rass, after Ramiro Enrique had given the home team a 16th-minute lead.
The win sees Ettifaq rise to sixth in the table while Al-Kholood remain in 12th.
