Former Bristol City midfielder Josh Brownhill has been without a club since leaving Burnley as a free agent this summer
17:25, 04 Sep 2025
Josh Brownhill left Bristol City for Burnley in early 2020(Image: Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Former Bristol City midfielder Josh Brownhill has reportedly agreed to join Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab, with the midfielder set to sign a deal which will see him earn more than £100,000-a-week.
According to Sky Sports, the former Burnley man will travel to the Middle East on Friday to finalise his move and undergo a medical with the club, having left Turf Moor as a free agent at the end of last season.
Brownhill joined the Robins, then under the management of Lee Johnson, from Preston North End in the summer of 2016. The then-20-year-old played under Johnson during a loan spell at Barnsley the season prior, scoring three goals for the Tykes in League One.
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In his first season at Ashton Gate, the midfielder played 27 times in the Championship, with his only goal coming away to Premier League-bound Brighton.
The 2017/18 campaign saw the former North End youngster truly establish himself in BS3, however. He played a crucial role in the Robins' run to the League Cup semi-finals, including starting that famous 2-1 quarter-final win over Manchester United in south Bristol.
Brownhill remained a regular starter the following season as the Reds finished eighth in the Championship, just four points adrift of the play-off places, and took over captaincy duties early in the 2019/20 term following Marlon Pack's move to Cardiff City and with Bailey Wright sidelined by injury.
The then-23-year-old was a consistent fixture of Johnson's side over the course of the first half of the campaign as City again threatened to mount a challenge for the top six, but left Ashton Gate during the January transfer window, making the step up to the Premier League with Burnley.
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For the last five-and-a-half seasons, Brownhill has remained at Turf Moor. In his time with the Lancashire club, he was part of the team relegated from the Premier League, helped win promotion from the Championship under Vincent Kompany, suffered relegation again in the 2023/24 season, and finally, won automatic promotion again with Scott Parker last term.
Although the 29-year-old played an important role in the Clarets' success last time out, scoring 18 goals and laying on six assists from attacking midfield, he confirmed via social media that he would be leaving Burnley as a free agent this summer.
In the wake of his Turf Moor exit, the former Robin has been linked with a whole host of clubs both in England and abroad, namely Leeds United, Wolves, and West Ham United.
Instead, he appears to be heading for the Middle East with Al Shabab. Imanol Alguacil's side finished sixth in the Saudi Pro League last season and kicked off the new campaign with a 4-1 away defeat to Al Khaleej on Friday night ahead of the September international break.
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