Ivan Rakitic has said his goodbyes to his Sevilla teammates ahead of a move to Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia. The midfielder will travel to the Middle East imminently to complete the medical test and sign the paperwork to finalise the move ahead of the January transfer window deadline.

The Croatian has been a mainstay for Sevilla since joining them from Barcelona as a free agent in 2020. This is his second spell for the record Europa League winners, and he is also the club’s vice captain. But his journey is now at an end, with a spell in the Middle East now set to take place.

Ivan Rakitic to sign for Al Shabab from Sevilla

The 35-year-old is out of a contract at the end of the season, but Sevilla are willing to negotiate an early exit. They are currently battling for relegation, having won only three games this far, and are prepared to let go of an important player even though it might strongly influence their chances of staying up in the top flight.

The midfielder rose to the top with Barcelona, and continued his form with Sevilla after his return. But now, it seems like he is set to enter the final chapter of his career. But interestingly, he will be joining one of the clubs not funded by the Saudi Arabia PIF.