Sevilla announced on Tuesday that Ivan Rakitic, after his second stint with the club, has departed ahead of his upcoming move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab.
The LaLiga side revealed that the player’s contract was scheduled to conclude at the end of the ongoing campaign.
“We have agreed a deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab Club for the transfer of Ivan Rakitic, who will bring his second spell with us to a close,” Sevilla said in a statement.
After initially playing for the Spanish club between 2011 and 2014, Ivan Rakitic made a return to Sevilla in September 2020, following a six-year stint at Barcelona.
Last year, his contributions played a pivotal role in Sevilla securing their seventh Europa League title, further solidifying his place in the club’s history.
Rakitic holds the distinction of being the foreign player with the most appearances for Sevilla, surpassing 300 games.
Notably, Rakitic was part of Barcelona’s triumphant team in the 2014–2015 season, achieving a historic treble by winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.
During his time with Barcelona, the midfielder amassed an impressive total of 13 trophies.
The 35-year-old Croatian international, who earned 106 caps for his country between 2007 and 2019, chose to retire from national duty in 2020.
Rakitic’s illustrious career has left an indelible mark on both Sevilla and Barcelona, contributing to the success of these prominent football clubs.