Rasheed Akanbi joins Al-Jabalain: Nigeria winger completes Saudi move

Nigeria winger Rasheed Akanbi has joined Al-Jabalain, moving to the Saudi First Division League after leaving Boluspor earlier this year.

The 27-year-old left-sided attacker had been without a club since departing the Turkish side on 8 April 2026. He joins Al-Jabalain on 13 August, with no transfer fee reported for the move.

Akanbi, who was born in Lagos and stands 1.90m tall, operates primarily as a left winger and is right-footed. He spent the 2025-26 campaign with Boluspor after joining the club from Moldovan side FC Sheriff on a free transfer in July 2025.

His time at Sheriff represented the most decorated period of his career. Akanbi won the Moldavian Cup twice with the club, in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, and helped Sheriff claim the Moldavian championship in 2022-23. He was also named the league’s top goalscorer that season after scoring eight goals in the Super Liga.

The forward’s record in Moldova included 10 goals and four assists in 22 Super Liga appearances, followed by eight goals and three assists in 25 matches during the competition’s second phase. He also scored nine times in 11 Moldavian Cup appearances for Sheriff.

Akanbi has featured in European competition during his career, scoring twice in six Europa League appearances and twice in six Champions League qualifying matches. He also recorded one assist in three Conference League appearances.

Before joining Sheriff, Akanbi played in Turkey for Kocaelispor and Menemenspor. He moved from Menemenspor to Kocaelispor in January 2022 for €61,000, before transferring to Sheriff for €108,000 in July 2022.

His senior career began with Foca Belediye, whom he joined from Future PA in January 2019. He later moved to Tire Belediye before making the switch to Menemenspor in January 2020.

Akanbi’s arrival gives Al-Jabalain a winger with experience in Turkish football, Moldovan domestic competition and European qualifying matches. His career record includes 93 appearances, 19 goals and 13 assists in the 1. Lig, alongside his productive spell in Moldova.

The completed move places Akanbi at Al-Jabalain from 13 August 2026.