KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Shabab Al Ahli have emerged as a primary destination for Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison, offering the Brazilian international a route to the UAE after a falling out in relations at the North London club.
With most major European transfer windows now closed, the UAE Pro League remains one of very few elite global markets still open, running until September 28. This extended timeline puts the Dubai club in a prime position to offer the high-profile forward a major platform such as the ADNOC Pro League.
Negotiations are ongoing as intermediaries explore potential agreement structures between the two clubs. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has left Richarlison out of Tuesday’s League Cup tie against Liverpool while Richarlison has attempted to go to Everton and Brazil’s Vasco da Gama but to no avail.
According to Transfermarkt, the 29-year-old striker has been valued at €25 million. Richarlison was the top-scorer for Spurs last season with 11 goals. Options for him and Shabab Al Ahli include a permanent transfer, a short-term deal or a temporary arrangement with a January release clause.
A central factor driving the potential move is the prospect of Richarlison reuniting with Andre Jardine, the current head coach of Shabab Al Ahli. Jardine famously managed the Brazil Under-23 national team to Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games, where Richarlison starred as the tournament’s top scorer.
The opportunity to work again under a manager who extracted his best international form presents an attractive proposition for the forward after a difficult summer.
A prospective move to Turkish side Trabzonspor had also stalled. Home club Vasco were prepared but could only offer a 17.5m package.
Meanwhile, the Premier League side maintains that no legal grounds exist for a unilateral contract termination and retains an option to extend his deal until 2028, ensuring negotiations remain the only realistic path forward.
De Zerbi confirmed over the weekend after Match Day 4 of the Premier League that the relations between the club and the player have broken down, but he also indicated that the player was not as crucial as Richarlison might think.
“I have spoken to him, but it is between him and the club and I cannot beg him to play,” De Zerbi said while adding on another related question that Richarlison “played against Brentford which we lost 3-0."
Richarlison’s move to Shabab Al Ahli could be a win-win situation for both parties. It will reinforce the Pro League’s standing as an attractive destination for top-tier international players while a move to Dubai offers immediate competitive football, a trusted managerial relationship, and a fresh start just like others like Jonjo Shelvey, Ravel Morrison or Andres Iniesta have done ahead of him.