Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club have made emerging Al Dhafra midfelder Abdullah Al Naqbi their first Emirati addition since last summer’s merger.

Al Naqbi, 25, represented a highly coveted figure in the Arabian Gulf League’s nascent summer market after his outstanding displays on loan at Al Wasl in 2017/18. The third-placed Cheetahs were unable to meet the financial demands of the Western Knights, ultimately creating a chase between ambitious Sharjah and the Rashid Stadium-outfit.

This battle ended on Tuesday when the parties reached total agreement about a move to the latter. An official announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday.

Shabab Al Ahli had previously only operated in the foreign market since May 2017’s shock amalgamation. South Korean playmaker Moon Chang-jin was captured last summer and Croatian forward Ante Erceg followed in the winter.

An impressive free-transfer deal for emerging UAE and Al Jazira forward Ahmed Al Attas is also believed to have been sealed. The 22-year-old enjoyed a career-best return of six goals in 15 top-flight matches last term, despite the dethroned champions’ struggles.

If he is soon teamed up with Al Naqbi, this will represent a smart start to the transfer window for the managerless Shabab Al Ahli.

The Dhafra youth product scored once in 17 AGL matches on temporary terms at Zabeel Stadium. This form saw him drop on the radar of UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni, although he is yet to make his debut.