November 10, 2026
The Emirati “Arabian Falcons” club, which was founded in Dubai in 2023, has become a prominent attraction for a number of former English Premier League stars, as part of an ambitious project aimed at refining young talent and paving the way for them towards European professionalism.
The project is technically led by Jonjo Shelvey, the former Liverpool and Newcastle United player, who announced his retirement from playing in April 2026 to take over the coaching job for the team active in the UAE second division league. The technical and administrative staff also includes Danny Simpson, who won the English Premier League title with Leicester City in the 2015-2016 season, and who holds the role of player and assistant coach, along with Ravel Morrison, the former Manchester United player who holds the team’s captaincy.
At the senior management level, former Crystal Palace player Jason Punchon is present as co-owner of the club and head of football operations.
Despite its recent founding, the club achieved a remarkable achievement by ascending to the UAE Second Division League in its first season, and it currently occupies sixth place in the standings, only six points behind the top of the standings.
The administration’s ambitions were not limited to attracting veteran names only; Last September, the club extended an open invitation to Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, and Philippe Coutinho, to train and participate in matches without long-term contract restrictions.
This initiative aims to give players who are not linked to clubs the opportunity to maintain their physical and technical readiness, with flexibility that allows them to leave as soon as they receive new offers.
Through this unique experience, the Arabian Falcons Club seeks to combine the expertise of big names with programs to develop emerging talents, thus enhancing its position on the UAE football map and paving its way towards reaching higher levels of competitiveness.
