Al-Shabab bring in Senegal centre-back Mamadou Thierno Barry from Union SG

Senegal defender Mamadou Thierno Barry has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old centre-back’s move began on 1 August 2026 and runs until 30 June 2027, when he is scheduled to return to Union SG. Barry is contracted to Al-Shabab for the duration of the loan.

Standing at 1.95m, Barry is a right-footed defender who arrives in Saudi Arabia after 18 months with Union SG. He moved to the Belgian club from Troms IL in January 2025 in a €2.55m transfer.

Barry won the Belgian Cup with Union SG in 2026, securing the first major honour of his senior career. His arrival at Al-Shabab follows a period in which he was part of a Union side that competed in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League.

Before joining Union SG, Barry spent time with Troms IL after beginning his senior career at Senegalese club Academy Mawade Wade. The move to Belgium represented his first transfer away from Troms IL, and he now takes up a new challenge in the Saudi Pro League.

The defender’s current market value is €1.2m, while his highest recorded valuation was €1.8m. Those figures do not affect the terms of the loan, with no transfer fee attached to the temporary move.

Barry has been registered as an Al-Shabab player for the 2026-27 season and is due to remain with the Saudi club until the end of June. His recorded competitive involvement for the new campaign had not yet produced an appearance by the time of the transfer, leaving his Al-Shabab debut to come after the switch.

The deal gives Al-Shabab a young Senegalese centre-back with experience in both Belgian and Norwegian football. Barry’s time in Saudi Arabia is formally limited to the 2026-27 season, after which he is scheduled to rejoin Union Saint-Gilloise.

Mamadou Thierno Barry has therefore completed his move from Union SG to Al-Shabab on loan until 30 June 2027.

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Andrews Sefa Bamfo
Andrews Sefa Bamfo is a promising young football writer and reporter, recognised as one of the rising talents in African football journalism. He specialises in match reporting, features and on-ground coverage, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the industry.He is educated at the University of Ghana and has gained valuable experience working with one of Ghana’s leading media organisations, TV3, where he developed his skills in both television reporting and football journalism.Andrews’ talent and potential were further recognised when he was selected for the prestigious CAF Young Reporters Programme, where he received advanced media training in partnership with CANAL+. This exposure has helped shape his understanding of modern sports journalism and storytelling.Since then, he has continued to grow in the field and is widely regarded as one of the emerging voices in African football media. He is currently a Staff Writer at African.Football, contributing to the platform’s coverage with insightful reports and engaging content for a global audience.

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