Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and other stars invited to play in Dubai
Dubai football club Arabian Falcons has issued an unusual open invitation to some of the biggest free agents in world football, offering stars including Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho the opportunity to train and play in the UAE without committing to a long-term contract.
The UAE Second Division side wants players currently without clubs to use Dubai as a base to maintain their fitness, play competitive matches and remain ready for their next major move.
Arabian Falcons target some of football’s biggest names
The club’s invitation includes an impressive list of experienced players who are currently out of contract.
Alongside Benzema, Pogba, Sterling and Sancho, Arabian Falcons also mentioned Riyad Mahrez, Philippe Coutinho, Dani Carvajal and Jamie Vardy as players they would welcome to Dubai.
The proposal is deliberately flexible.
Players would be able to join the club, train every day, feature in competitive matches and then leave immediately if the right offer arrives from another team.
There would be no requirement to sign a long-term agreement with Arabian Falcons.
Jonjo Shelvey leads the Dubai project
The ambitious project is being led by former Liverpool and Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who is now coaching Arabian Falcons.
Shelvey believes established players should not spend months away from competitive football simply because they are waiting for their next contract.
His message to free agents is straightforward: come to Dubai, keep playing and show clubs that you are still ready to compete.
The club also has significant Premier League experience elsewhere within its leadership.
Former Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison captains the team, while former Crystal Palace player Jason Puncheon oversees football operations.
A different option for free agents
Arabian Falcons are trying to address a problem that frequently affects experienced professionals after transfer windows close.
A player may still be capable of performing at the highest level but can spend months training individually while waiting for another club.
That can quickly affect match sharpness and physical conditioning.
Puncheon believes Dubai can provide an alternative.
Instead of training alone, players can work with the squad every day, receive professional conditioning and medical support and, crucially, continue playing competitive football.
The moment a suitable opportunity arrives elsewhere, they are free to leave.
Benzema and Pogba could bring global attention
The presence of even one player of Benzema or Pogba’s profile would immediately transform the visibility of a club competing in the third tier of UAE football.
Benzema is a Ballon d’Or winner and one of the most decorated forwards of his generation, while Pogba spent much of his career at Manchester United and Juventus and won the World Cup with France.
Names such as Sterling, Sancho, Mahrez, Coutinho, Carvajal and Vardy also bring years of Premier League, Champions League and international experience.
Arabian Falcons are not suggesting these players necessarily make the UAE Second Division their permanent destination.
Instead, the club is positioning itself as a temporary professional home between major contracts.
Dubai becomes part of the pitch
The location is also central to the idea.
Dubai is already home to numerous current and former professional footballers and has become a popular destination for athletes during breaks in the European season.
Arabian Falcons are now attempting to turn those advantages into a football model.
Players would be able to live and train in Dubai while remaining match-ready, rather than spending months away from competitive action.
That combination of lifestyle, high-level facilities and flexibility could prove attractive to footballers deciding on the next stage of their careers.
Premier League experience behind the club
Arabian Falcons are also trying to raise standards beyond the senior team.
The club has launched an academy that it describes as being built to Premier League standards, while its leadership team is attempting to introduce the professional environment they experienced during their careers in England.
Sporting director Harry Agombar says free agents joining the Falcons would have access to medical care, conditioning, training and match exposure designed to return them to full fitness.
The objective is to create an environment that feels significantly more professional than the club’s position in the UAE football pyramid might suggest.
Arabian Falcons start season with a victory
The club has also started its new league campaign positively, winning its opening match 2-1.
Arabian Falcons hope to climb through the UAE football pyramid and see the recruitment of experienced players as part of a much wider development strategy.
Bringing famous names into the dressing room could also benefit younger players, giving them the opportunity to train alongside footballers who have competed at the highest international level.
Could global stars really play in Dubai’s third tier?
Whether Benzema, Pogba or any of the other players mentioned ultimately accept the invitation remains to be seen.
But the proposal itself is highly unusual.
A Dubai third-tier club is effectively offering some of football’s most recognisable free agents a temporary home where they can train, compete and leave whenever the next major opportunity arrives.
For Arabian Falcons, it is also another statement of ambition.
The club may currently sit well below the UAE Pro League, but with Shelvey on the touchline, Morrison wearing the captain’s armband and an open invitation now extended to some of the biggest names in football, it is clearly aiming for attention far beyond the Second Division.
