Stephan El Shaarawy will join Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab as a free agent, following the expiration of his contract with Roma, according to reports in Italy. The former Italy international is set to sign a two-year deal with the Riyadh-based club, reportedly earning €10 million per season.
El Shaarawy’s departure from Roma brings an end to a decade-long association with the club across two spells. He scored 66 goals in 348 appearances for the Giallorossi, most recently netting the crucial goal against Verona that secured Champions League qualification for the team. The club did not offer a contract extension, despite the player’s desire to remain in the Italian capital.
The move to Al-Shabab sees El Shaarawy return to a league that has been attracting high-profile players with significant financial incentives. The club had previously shown interest in the forward a couple of years ago, and ultimately outbid Serie A clubs Venezia and Genoa for his signature. He will join Belgian forward Yannick Carrasco, who was previously linked with a move to Roma, and former AC Milan player Giacomo Bonaventura at Al-Shabab.
Prior to his return to Roma, El Shaarawy spent time in China with Shanghai Shenhua, earning a reported €16 million per season between 2019 and 2021. The financial package offered by Al-Shabab is comparable to his previous experience in the Chinese Super League. El Shaarawy recently married Ludovica Pagani, an influencer with four million followers, who is set to participate in a new television program, “La tela del mondo,” potentially on Rai television.
This transfer concludes a busy period for El Shaarawy, following his goal for Roma, his wedding to Pagani, and now a new chapter in Saudi Arabia. The move represents a significant financial reward for the player and likely signals the end of his career in European football.
