Dubai (AFP)

Diaa Sabia became the first Israeli footballer to be engaged in a Gulf championship after signing for two years with Club Al-Nasr in Dubai on Sunday, in the wake of the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

"Welcome to Diaa Sabia at the Blue Citadel," the club wrote on Twitter on Sunday to announce the signing of the 27-year-old Arab Israeli midfielder from Chinese club Guangzhou R&F.

A video of the player wearing the number 9, taken in the Al-Maktoum stadium, was posted on the club's Twitter account.

In a statement, Al-Nasr confirmed the transfer, with a photo of the player wearing a number 9 flocked jersey and surrounded by members of the club's management.

Al-Nasr did not specify the amount of the transfer but press reports put forward that of three million dollars (around 2.6 million euros).

The Emirates and Israel signed an agreement on September 15 to normalize their relations, in a ceremony at the White House that saw Bahrain sign a similar agreement with the Jewish state.

Recently, Israeli media reported that an Emirati businessman, who has not been identified, has expressed an interest in investing in the Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem.

This club is known for its links with the Israeli far right and has never fielded an Arab player.

He has been repeatedly fined for racist chants by his supporters, such as "death to the Arabs".

Of Palestinian origin, Diaa Sabia was born in the Arab town of Majd al-Krum in northern Israel.

He played among the youngsters of the Beitar Nes Tubruk club before joining Maccabi Tel-Aviv in 2012.

Transferred to Maccabi Petah Tikva then to Maccabi Netanya, he was then recruited for 2 million euros in September 2018 by Hapoel Beer Sheva.

The midfielder scored 50 goals in 111 matches played in various competitions, including 24 goals in the 2018 season, before being selected for the national team.

Sabia suffered a serious left leg injury but continued to play for three months for Hapoel Beer-Sheva before receiving a proposal from Guangzhou R&F.

The amount of his transfer to the Chinese club in January 2019 reached 4.4 million euros.

© 2020 AFP