Leicester City’s Wout Faes joins Shabab Al-Ahli in permanent transfer | OneFootball

Wout Faes has left Leicester City to join UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli on a permanent deal. According to LeicesterMercury.co.uk, the Belgian defender has completed a move to the Dubai club.

The centre-back was linked with an exit all summer after returning from an AS Monaco loan that was not made permanent. He featured under Russell Martin in pre-season, then was left out of selection at the start of the League One campaign.

Bids for the Belgian were turned down, and West Ham pulled out of a loan move on deadline day. With other windows still open, an exit was never ruled out, amid links to Türkiye and sister club OH Leuven.

The 28-year-old joined Leicester from Reims in 2022 to replace Wesley Fofana after his big-money switch to Chelsea. He suffered Premier League relegation, then became a favourite under Enzo Maresca in the Championship-winning season.

City were relegated again in 2025, and Faes played under Marti Cifuentes in the Championship last season. His standing with supporters hit a low after he gestured towards them when scoring the winner on the opening day against Sheffield Wednesday.

He made his first appearance of this season in the 1-1 draw at Barnsley, where sections of the Leicester fanbase booed him. His four-year stint in the Midlands now ends with a switch to Shabab Al-Ahli, one of the UAE’s most successful clubs with nine league titles and 11 UAE President Cups.

Source: LeicesterMercury.co.uk

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