Sports defender Wout Faes leaves Leicester City for Dubai

In the bustle of a London airport, central defender Wout Faes looks at the departures board, while the screens display the word “Sports”. The 28‑year‑old player, a Red Devils international, is about to leave England for a new chapter in Dubai.

A new challenge in Dubai

The transfer, announced on Monday, is permanent: Faes leaves Leicester City, a club currently competing in League One, the third tier of English football. He signs with Shabab Al Ahli, a team based in Dubai, where he will discover a completely different league.

Leicester City is struggling today in League One, far from the spotlight of the Premier League. Faes' departure marks a loss for the club's defence, which will have to reorganise its back‑line before the league resumes.

Shabab Al Ahli, a Dubai club, welcomes the Belgian defender with the ambition of strengthening its defensive unit. The transfer fits the club's strategy of recruiting experienced players from Europe.

Faes has 28 caps for the Red Devils, but his last appearance dates back to June of last year. He was not selected by Rudi Garcia for the World Cup, and his successor Mark van Bommel also omitted him in his first call‑up.

This move illustrates the growing mobility of European players to Middle‑East leagues, highlighting the influence of financial and sporting stakes in world football.