Free-agent Sancho among ex-Premier League stars offered Dubai lifeline by Shelvey's Arabian Falcons

Jadon Sancho, still without a club after Manchester United released him at the end of June, has been offered a route back into football by Arabian Falcons, a Dubai-based second-division side managed by former Liverpool and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey.

The Falcons have extended the same invitation to a string of other prominent free agents, including Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Philippe Coutinho and Anthony Martial. The club’s pitch is straightforward: come to Dubai, train daily, accumulate competitive minutes, and stay sharp until a permanent deal materialises — or settle in the emirate long-term.

“We’ve seen ex-Premier League players go months without a club and lose all their sharpness,” Shelvey told Mirror Football. “There’s no reason for that to happen. Come to Dubai, train with us every single day, get proper minutes, and be ready the second the phone rings.”

The project has attracted notable football figures off the pitch too. Crystal Palace FA Cup finalist Jason Puncheon has joined as co-owner and head of football operations, while Leicester City Premier League winner Danny Simpson is also involved. On the field, former Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison captains the side after joining last season.

Simpson echoed Shelvey’s message: “I know what it’s like waiting for the right move to come along. This is the perfect place to stay ready — the weather, the facilities, the lifestyle, the football. There’s no excuse not to be match fit out here.”

Sancho’s situation underlines the scale of the challenge facing several once-elite players. The England winger spent the last three seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa, with all three clubs declining to make his move permanent. Chelsea went as far as paying a £5 million penalty fee to avoid triggering a £25 million obligation-to-buy clause.

Links to Fiorentina, Roma and Brazilian side Palmeiras emerged during the summer transfer window but came to nothing. Sancho remains one of the most recognisable names in a surprisingly long list of top-level players still searching for employment.

Arabian Falcons currently compete in the second division of Emirati football but have opened the new campaign with a winning run. The club’s stated ambition is promotion to the top flight, with an eye on eventually positioning themselves as a genuine destination for global stars looking to extend their careers in Dubai.