Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that former Celtic striker and Skelper-supreme Moussa Dembele has agreed to join Saudi Arabia side Al Ettifaq – managed by none other than Steven Gerrard – after becoming a free agent at the end of the season after his contract at Lyon ran it’s course.

Dembele was a fans favourite at Celtic after joining from a small cross border development fee from Fulham in June 2018, becoming one of the first players to arrive in Brendan Rodgers’ first period in charge of the club.

Leigh Griffiths, who had scored 40 goals for the club in the previous season, was a major injury concern ahead of the first ever Scottish Premiership match against theRangers and as it turned out the Scotland striker failed a fitness test so Dembele was sent out to lead the line and became the first Celtic player since Harry Hood to score a hat-trick against an Ibrox club. He made 94 appearances for Celtic scoring 51 goals and regularly found the back of the net playing against theRangers at Celtic Park, Hampden or Ibrox, the venue made no difference.

He had a disagreement with Rodgers during the troubled start to the 2018-19 season and forced his move from the club in somewhat dramatic circumstances. After the initial shock, the Celtic support has always had a positive relationship with Big Moussa who always posts positive Celtic messages on his social media channels and celebrates Celtic successes just like any other Celtic supporter.

He joins Jota, another former Celt, in Saudi football and like our former Superstar from Portugal he will be on mega wages which will set him up for live.

Romano reports: “Al Ettifaq have reached agreement in principle to sign Moussa Dembélé as free agent. There are still some details to sort after Henderson deal almost completed but Dembélé is really close to joining Saudi league.”

Best of luck to both of our former Bhoys over there.

Al Ettifaq have reached agreement in principle to sign Moussa Dembélé as free agent. 🚨🟢🇫🇷

There are still some details to sort after Henderson deal almost completed but Dembélé is really close to joining Saudi league. pic.twitter.com/SG7FVmvbLF

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2023

Moussa Dembele about to join up with Steven Gerrard’s side Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. I guess Stevie didn’t fancy acquiring the talents of his former star player, the world class Alfredo Morelos. pic.twitter.com/v1YfcpoeVt

— JustAnOrdinaryBhoy (@ordinarybhoy) July 23, 2023