Everton Ribeiro’s decision to shun Europe for Al Ahli is a game changer for UAE football

Thomas Woods explains why Al Ahli's signing of Brazil international Everton Ribeiro is not only big for the club, but could have a seismic impact on the Arabian Gulf League.

Everton Ribeiro was attracting interest from several prominent European clubs, but opted to sign a four-year contract with Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli. Felipe Oliveira / Getty

Al Ahli’s purchase of Everton Ribeiro could the most important transfer in UAE football since the top flight turned professional in 2008.

Here is a player who, over the past 18 months, has been linked with – and has talked about – moves to major European clubs.

Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United are said to have wanted to sign him, with his agent saying in December 2013 that David Moyes was monitoring the midfielder closely.

This is also a player who is a current Brazil international, having earned three caps since September 2014.

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And he is 25, not yet at his peak and going against the stereotype that Arabian Gulf football is a place players go for one last payday before they retire.

His signing sends two messages.

First, that Al Ahli, languishing in sixth in the table, are not going to let their title slip without a fight, having also brought in Morocco international Oussama Assaidi, 26, from Liverpool.

Second, that the Arabian Gulf League can compete with top European leagues for talent and can offer ambitious players the platform to succeed.

Ribeiro might be gone after a year or he could stay for the length of his four-year contract. But in between he will raise the standard and profile of the league and give Ahli a better chance in the Asian Champions League.

He must be confident that he will be able to keep his place in the Brazil squad or he would not have done the deal.

And he might convince rising players to shun sitting on the bench of a Primera Liga or Premier League team for regular football in the UAE.

Asamoah Gyan is probably the biggest-name arrival in the professional era. When he signed for Al Ain in 2011, he was heavily criticised in Europe and was expected to be back in a “big league” within a season.

It was also assumed he had few options elsewhere, as the European transfer window had closed when Al Ain got him on loan, initially, from Sunderland.

Yet he is still here, scoring goals and still performing on the international stage and others have followed.

A trend among AGL clubs for buying younger players has emerged over the past few seasons.

Al Ain’s four foreigners are 24, 25, 27 and 29. Ahli could now field Ribeiro, 25, Carlos Munoz, 25, Assaidi, 26, and Luis Jimenez, 30.

Argentine Manuel Lanzini, Al Jazira’s main creative player, is just 21.

The array of talent on AGL squads gets more impressive with each passing season and Ahli have raised the bar with the signing of Ribeiro.

That any player considered good enough to play at the Bernabeu or Old Trafford has chosen the Rashid Stadium instead is a promising sign for the AGL.

It could also be the move that keeps the title in Dubai.

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