Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun is joining Emirati club Shabab Al Ahli after they reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen over a summer move.

Shabab Al Ahli agreed to a €5m package with Bayer Leverkusen for the Iranian center forward, according to Fabrizio Romano, with medical tests set to be done on Monday in Dubai.

Azmoun, dubbed as the Iranian Messi, started his career in Sepahan in his home country, before moving to Russia to play for Rostov, Rubin Kazan, and Zenit Saint Petersburg ahead of January 2022 transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.

The 29-year-old spent last season out on loan at AS Roma and wasn’t eligible for a Bundesliga medal, but at least he got playing time in Italy, scoring three goals in 29 games.

It looks like the player is set to close the European Chapter of his life by joining Shabab Al Ahli in UAE to play alongside his compatriot Saeid Ezatolahi and under Portuguese boss Paulo Sousa.

Signing a player of this caliber would be considered a coup for Shabab Al Ahli as they are strengthening their squad in preparation for the AFC Champions League next season as the club finished second in the league last season.

On the international level, Azmoun, who was named the Footballer of the Year in Russia in 2021, has 83 caps to his name in which he scored 53 goals and played two World Cups.