Bertrand Traore: Burkina Faso winger linked with move to Al-Shabab in Saudi Pro League switch

Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore, currently without a club, is being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab as the 30-year-old assesses his next step in club football.

Traore has been a free agent since 1 July 2026 and would be able to join Al-Shabab outside of the traditional transfer fee structure, with his current market value listed at around €4 million. The Riyadh-based club are exploring attacking reinforcements and view the experienced right winger as a potential addition on the flank.

The left-footed attacker, born in Bobo-Dioulasso in September 1995, has built a career operating primarily on the right wing in an attacking role. Standing at 1.81m, he offers a profile that could fit the Saudi Pro League’s ongoing recruitment drive for established international players.

On the international stage, Traore first came to prominence as part of Burkina Faso’s youth setup, winning the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2011 with his country’s U17 side. He later enhanced his reputation in European competition by reaching the Europa League final with Ajax in the 2016-17 season, finishing as a runner-up.

Traore’s status as a free agent gives Al-Shabab flexibility in negotiations over both contract length and salary structure as discussions continue over a potential deal. For now, the winger remains unattached and available to sign immediately, with Al-Shabab among the leading candidates for his signature.