Richarlison in talks over Tottenham exit as Shabab Al-Ahli emerge as solution
Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison is in talks over a possible move to UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli, with the Emirati club offering a late solution to an increasingly tense stand-off. The UAE window stays open until September 28, giving both parties a narrow window to finalise a deal.
- Player: Richarlison (Brazil forward)
- Current club: Tottenham Hotspur
- Interested club: Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE Pro League)
- Stage: Talks ongoing; intermediaries working on a deal structure
- Deadline: UAE transfer window closes September 28
- Key factor: Potential reunion with coach Andre Jardine
Deal details
Shabab Al-Ahli have maintained interest in Richarlison after making contact with his camp several weeks ago. No fee has been agreed, but intermediaries are now working to shape a possible agreement. One option reportedly discussed is a short-term contract, while another could involve a release clause allowing Richarlison to leave in January.
The player is said to favour a short-term arrangement, a preference that previously blocked a move to Vasco da Gama. Vasco were reportedly prepared to pay around £15million, but the desired terms were not aligned. A move to Trabzonspor also failed to materialise, and Richarlison decided against a return to Everton.
Injury and availability
There is no injury update in this story, but Richarlison remains unavailable for selection. He was left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad and was again omitted for the Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the forward would not be involved.
What was said
“Richarlison, you already know everything; nothing has changed for the Carabao Cup or Premier League. The situation is the same.”
“I said [in] the last press conference, I know what happened in the last 45 days. It’s not right, if I explain. It’s not my behaviour. It is the relationship, and the problem is with the player and the club. I spoke with him many times to convince him to stay, and he didn’t want to. I can’t go every day to pray for him to stay.”
De Zerbi’s remarks are unusually direct. He places the issue firmly on the relationship between player and club, making clear that Richarlison himself decided against staying. The head coach’s admission that he cannot “pray for him to stay” signals Tottenham have moved past persuasion and are now seeking an exit route.
Richarlison responded on X with a crying emoji, a reaction that only intensified the public nature of the stand-off. The exchange underlines how far relations have deteriorated and why a Dubai move may now be the most realistic solution for all concerned.
The numbers
- £15m: Fee Vasco da Gama were prepared to pay for Richarlison
- September 28: Deadline for the UAE Pro League transfer window
- 45 days: Period referenced by De Zerbi regarding behind-the-scenes developments
- 2028: Year until which Tottenham believe they can keep Richarlison tied to a contract option
Why Andre Jardine could be the deciding factor
The most compelling personal angle in this transfer is the prospect of Richarlison working again with Andre Jardine, the coach who led Brazil Under-23s to Olympic gold in Tokyo. Richarlison played a central role in that success, scoring freely and enhancing his international standing. A reunion appears to be more than a side detail; it could be the factor that makes Dubai a realistic destination.
From a football perspective, the move offers regular matches and a clean reset after a bruising summer. For Tottenham, it would allow the club to draw a line under a saga that has dragged on for too long and remove an increasingly problematic situation from the dressing-room picture.
Tottenham’s legal stance and why negotiation is the only path
Tottenham’s position has hardened. The club do not accept that Richarlison’s exclusion from the squad creates valid grounds for a legal exit, pointing to a potential option that could keep him contracted until 2028. This stance follows reports that Richarlison’s camp explored possible legal avenues, using the release of Renan Lodi from Al-Hilal as a reference point.
Spurs believe they are protected contractually and under no pressure to cave in, which leaves negotiation as the logical route. Intermediaries are now tasked with finding a structure that works for all parties, whether permanent, short-term, or a compromise opening the door to a January decision.
Talking points
- Should Tottenham accept a short-term deal just to get Richarlison off the wage bill, or hold out for a permanent sale?
- Is De Zerbi’s public honesty a strength or does it weaken Spurs’ negotiating position by exposing the rift?
- Would a January release clause make sense for Tottenham, or would it leave them vulnerable to losing him for nothing?
- If Richarlison reunites with Jardine, does that boost his chances of an international recall, or does a UAE move harm them?
What happens next
Talks with Shabab Al-Ahli are ongoing and the UAE transfer window closes on September 28. Tottenham want a resolution, and Richarlison wants regular football before January. If an agreement is reached, the forward could travel to Dubai imminently. If not, the stand-off will continue into the autumn, with the January window the next realistic opportunity to part ways.
Frequently asked questions
Is Richarlison leaving Tottenham for Shabab Al-Ahli?
Talks are ongoing but no deal has been agreed. Shabab Al-Ahli remain interested and intermediaries are working on a possible agreement before the UAE window closes on September 28.
Why is Richarlison not playing for Tottenham?
He was left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad and has not been involved under Roberto De Zerbi, who said the player “didn’t want to” stay and that the problem lies between the player and the club.
What is the Andre Jardine connection?
Andre Jardine coached Richarlison in Brazil’s Under-23 Olympic gold-winning team in Tokyo. The prospect of working with him again is believed to be a significant attraction of a move to Shabab Al-Ahli.
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