<p>An Arab club has for the first time signed an Israeli footballer, Diaa Sabia, less than two weeks after the UAE normalised ties with the Jewish state.</p>.<p>Sabia, a 28-year-old Israeli Arab attacking midfielder with China's Guangzhou R&F, signed a two-year contract with Dubai's Al-Nasr, the club said in a statement Sunday.</p>.<p>The transfer reportedly cost more than 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million).</p>.<p>"Al-Nasr has completed the procedures with Diaa Saba ... in a contract that extends for two seasons after he successfully passed medical examinations this morning," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>Al-Nasr tweeted footage of Sabia wearing the number 9 jersey, dribbling and shooting in the emirate's Al-Maktoum Stadium.</p>.<p>Sabia's move comes after the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a member, signed a US-brokered accord to normalise ties with Israel on September 15, the first such deal with a Gulf nation.</p>.<p>Sabia -- who is of Palestinian origin -- was born in northern Israel and rose through the ranks of a youth club before moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2012.</p>.<p>He played for several Israeli clubs until signing in 2014 with Maccabi Netanya, where he stayed for four years.</p>.<p>Sabia has scored 50 goals in 111 games in various competitions, including 24 in the 2018 season, and has 10 caps in the Israeli national team.</p>.<p>He was sold to Guangzhou R&F for more than four million euros.</p>
<p>An Arab club has for the first time signed an Israeli footballer, Diaa Sabia, less than two weeks after the UAE normalised ties with the Jewish state.</p>.<p>Sabia, a 28-year-old Israeli Arab attacking midfielder with China's Guangzhou R&F, signed a two-year contract with Dubai's Al-Nasr, the club said in a statement Sunday.</p>.<p>The transfer reportedly cost more than 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million).</p>.<p>"Al-Nasr has completed the procedures with Diaa Saba ... in a contract that extends for two seasons after he successfully passed medical examinations this morning," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>Al-Nasr tweeted footage of Sabia wearing the number 9 jersey, dribbling and shooting in the emirate's Al-Maktoum Stadium.</p>.<p>Sabia's move comes after the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a member, signed a US-brokered accord to normalise ties with Israel on September 15, the first such deal with a Gulf nation.</p>.<p>Sabia -- who is of Palestinian origin -- was born in northern Israel and rose through the ranks of a youth club before moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2012.</p>.<p>He played for several Israeli clubs until signing in 2014 with Maccabi Netanya, where he stayed for four years.</p>.<p>Sabia has scored 50 goals in 111 games in various competitions, including 24 in the 2018 season, and has 10 caps in the Israeli national team.</p>.<p>He was sold to Guangzhou R&F for more than four million euros.</p>