Former Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse is making a comeback to professional football as he nears his 40th birthday.
Cisse became a sensation in the Premier League after joining Newcastle and forming a formidable partnership with fellow Senegalese player Demba Ba in 2012.
Cisse departed St James’ Park in 2016 following Newcastle’s relegation and has since played in leagues in China, Turkey, and France.
Now, Cisse is heading to the Middle East, having signed with Al Qabila, a newly established club in Dubai. Al Qabila competes in the fourth division of football in the United Arab Emirates.
Al Qabila is coached by Steven Taylor, Cisse’s former teammate from Newcastle, and the team is aiming for promotion this season.
Taylor has been coaching in Dubai since 2021 after retiring from playing three years ago.
Cisse secured a contract until the end of the current season after demonstrating his fitness during training sessions.
Born in Dakar, Cisse, who will turn 40 in June, scored 37 Premier League goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle.
Cisse was a free agent when he was signed by The Player Agency, an agency that aims to recruit experienced players and assist them in finding clubs internationally, either after injury periods or to extend their playing careers.
Cisse commented, “I am grateful to The Player for providing me with this opportunity to play in the UAE market.”
Cisse had been without a club since the summer of 2023 after leaving French club Amiens.
In late 2023, the former Senegalese international trained with Macclesfield Town, managed by Robbie Savage, but ultimately did not join the club.
Marcus Bellamy