Palm City bring in veteran Mali-France winger Abdoulay Diaby from Al-Batin

Mali-France winger Abdoulay Diaby has joined Palm City from Saudi Arabian club Al-Batin on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old right winger has signed a contract with Palm City running until 30 June 2027, completing his move on 16 August 2026. Diaby, who favours his left foot, arrives with extensive experience across European and Middle Eastern football.

His most recent club was Al-Batin, whom he joined from Portuguese side Boavista without a transfer fee in September 2025. Diaby made the switch to Boavista in February 2025 after a spell without a club, having previously left Turkish team Pendikspor in July 2024.

Diaby’s career has included spells in Belgium, France, Portugal, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He spent two seasons with Club Brugge after moving from Lille in 2015, making 97 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League and scoring 36 goals. He was part of Club Brugge’s Belgian championship-winning sides in 2015-16 and 2017-18, and also won two Belgian Super Cups.

The winger later joined Sporting CP from Club Brugge for €4.5m in August 2018. During his time in Portugal, he helped Sporting win the Portuguese League Cup and Portuguese Cup in the 2018-19 season. He also had loan spells with Besiktas, Getafe and Anderlecht.

Diaby moved to the UAE in 2021, joining Al-Jazira from Sporting B on a free transfer. He won the UAE Super Cup in his first season with the club and was the leading scorer at the 2021 Club World Cup, scoring two goals. His career record in the UAE Pro League stands at 45 appearances, 11 goals and six assists.

International honours are not specified, but Diaby holds both Mali and France nationalities. He was born in Nanterre, France, on 21 May 1991, and stands 1.73 metres tall.

Palm City’s new forward has recorded 16 goals in 66 Ligue 2 appearances, along with 13 goals in 32 Saudi First Division League matches. His career also includes appearances in the Europa League, Champions League and AFC Champions League.

Diaby’s contract at Palm City runs until 30 June 2027.