Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Diriyah after leaving Everton as a free agent.
The 36-year-old has signed a one-year contract with the newly promoted Saudi Pro League side, with the agreement including an option to extend his stay for another season.
Gueye’s move was confirmed on Sunday, 9 August, as he begins a new chapter in a career that has included spells in France, England and Senegal’s national team.
The midfielder becomes the third foreign player to be confirmed as a signing by Al-Diriyah, who will compete in the Saudi top flight after earning promotion.
Gueye arrives in Saudi Arabia following the end of his contract with Everton, where he had been playing since the 2022-23 season.
He leaves the English club with extensive experience at the highest level of European football.
The Senegal international has won 135 caps for his country and scored seven goals.
He has also represented Senegal at the World Cup, adding international experience to a career that has taken him across several major football leagues.
His arrival gives Al-Diriyah an experienced midfielder as the club prepares for life in the Saudi Pro League.
For Gueye, the move represents another change in a long career that has seen him establish himself as an important figure for both club and country.
His decision to continue playing at 36 also takes him into a new football environment after several seasons in England.
Gueye had been without a club since his departure from Everton, making him available to Al-Diriyah without a transfer fee.
The Saudi club have offered him an initial one-year agreement, with the possibility of extending the partnership for a further season depending on how the next campaign develops.
Al-Diriyah’s promotion means Gueye will now experience the Saudi Pro League for the first time.
The Senegalese midfielder joins at a significant point in the club’s development as it prepares to compete against established sides in the country’s top division.
His experience could prove valuable to a side stepping up to the highest level of Saudi football.
The midfielder’s international career has also made him one of Senegal’s most experienced current players.
With 135 appearances for the Teranga Lions, Gueye has been a regular presence in the national team over a prolonged period and has featured at the World Cup.
His move to Al-Diriyah therefore adds another chapter to the career of one of Senegal’s most experienced midfielders.
