Ex-Celtic star Jason Denayer makes shock move to the Middle East after leaving Europe at the peak of his career
A FORMER Celtic star has made a surprise move to the Middle East.
Jason Denayer, who had a stellar season playing on loan for the Hoops from Manchester City in 2014-15, left Lyon in August and had been searching for a club ever since.
That's despite the fact the defender boasts over 30 international caps and was a regular for Lyon for three of his four years in France.
He's also still only 27 but has taken a decision many would leave until a later stage in the career, leaving top-tier European football in favour of bagging a money-spinning move to the United Arab Emirates.
Denayer has signed for UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli on a one-year deal.
Shabab Al-Ahli are managed by former AS Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim.
He has perhaps tapped into his old book of contacts in France in order to lure Denayer to a less competitive footballing region.
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Denayer made a total of 139 appearances for Lyon, including playing in the Champions League.
He signed for the French outfit in 2018 after failing to break into the first team at Man City.
The Citizens loaned him out several times, first to Celtic in 2014 and then to Galatasaray twice, either side of a stint at Sunderland in 2016-17.
Lyon then snapped him up for £5.8million in 2018.
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Denayer has been a regular in Belgium squads since 2015, including being selected for Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
However boss Roberto Martinez said in the summer that Denayer would not be picked for his World Cup squad if he didn't find a club soon.
Martinez may have preferred to see Denayer stay in Europe but he nonetheless felt comfortable including him in the most recent squad for their Nations League matches against Wales and the Netherlands.
That being said, he wasn't picked for any of the actual matchday squads.
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou has been backed to "not make the same mistake" as Steven Gerrard by leaving Scottish football for the Premier League too soon.
Former Celtic and Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas reckons the Hoops gaffer will be happy where he is for a while yet, despite links with Leicester City.
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He told the Scottish Daily Express: "The lure of the Premier League is a huge one but I think there are times to make that move and I think Steven Gerrard made the wrong choice to go to Aston Villa last season.
"Ange won’t make the same mistake. He can see what happens down there. I could be wrong – and I was wrong about Gerrard – but I think he will wait until the right opportunity comes around. I have the feeling he is enjoying where he is and he wants to achieve more at Celtic."
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