Chelsea legend set for Saudi move

26 Sept 2023 06:33 BST
3 min read

John Terry is set to become the latest big-name star from the European game to join the lucrative Saudi Pro League.

The Chelsea legend, who retired from professional football in 2018, has spent time as Dean Smith’s assistant manager at both Aston Villa and Leicester City since his playing days ended, and he is now expected to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab.

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Terry, 42, will not follow Steven Gerrard into management in the Saudi Pro League, after he rejected the chance to become the club’s manager, but he is instead set to help Al-Shabab with their recruitment and strategy, according to Ben Jacobs.

The job will be based in the UK and Terry will help pick the next Al-Shabab head coach. Dutch boss Marcel Keizer was sacked in September after just five matches in charge and Argentine Juan Brown is currently the club’s manager.

Muhammed Al-Munjam reportedly played a key role in appointing Terry as he shares an existing relationship with the former Chelsea defender.

Terry is now expected to take the role after the Ministry of Sport approved Al-Munjam as Al-Shabab’s new president. The presidential elections have now been “ratified”, as per Jacobs, and Terry is “expected to join in the coming days.”

Terry to Al-Shabab

Terry will become the latest big-name to leave the European game for Saudi Arabia, with the likes of Neymar, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez preceding him this summer.

The former Chelsea captain will help oversee Al-Shabab’s recruitment, which will likely see the club dip heavily into the European market like the rest of the Saudi Pro League.

This summer, Al-Shabab spent a fairly modest €34.4 million. Habib Diallo (Strasbourg) and Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) were their two eye-catching arrivals, alongside ex-Wolves defender Romain Saiss, who joined on loan.

Al-Shabab are currently 11th in the Saudi Pro League, with eight points from their first seven games.