Dia Saba

Dia Saba is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Amedspor in the Turkish Süper Lig. Born in Majd al-Krum, he has built a career spanning Israel, China, the UAE, and Turkey, known for his vision, passing accuracy, and goal-scoring ability from midfield.

As of 2026, Saba competes in Turkey's top flight after helping Amedspor earn promotion in May 2026. He has earned 13 caps for Israel's national team and holds the distinction of being the first Israeli player to sign for a Dubai club following the Abraham Accords.

His career has been marked by historic moves and a reputation as a technically gifted playmaker, though his personal life remains largely private. [edit]

Saba grew up in Majd al-Krum, an Arab town in northern Israel's Galilee region. Details of his childhood are scarce, but he developed his football skills in the Israeli youth system, gradually rising through the ranks.

His early professional career was spent in Israel, where he played for clubs including Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva. These stints helped him establish himself as a creative midfielder with a sharp eye for goal, earning recognition in the Israeli Premier League.

By the late 2010s, Saba had become a regular in Israel's senior national team, accumulating 13 caps. His performances domestically and internationally set the stage for a move abroad. [edit]

Saba's first international move came in 2020 when he joined Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese Super League. His time in China was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic; he spent months in the Dalian isolation bubble, which he described as feeling "like prison." He tested negative for the virus but spoke openly about the mental toll and missing his family.

In September 2020, he made a historic switch to Al-Nasr in Dubai, signing a three-year contract worth $3 million per season. This made him the first Israeli player to join a Dubai club, a direct result of the Israel–UAE normalization agreement. He played in the UAE Pro League until 2023.

After a brief return to Israeli football with Maccabi Haifa, where he faced fan backlash over his silence on the Gaza war, Saba moved to Turkish club Amedspor in August 2025. The Kurdish-majority club welcomed him warmly, and in May 2026 they secured promotion to the Süper Lig. Saba now wears shirt number 14 for the 2026/27 season. [edit]

Saba's public image is shaped by his identity as an Israeli Arab Muslim footballer navigating complex geopolitical landscapes. His career moves have repeatedly placed him at the intersection of politics and sport.

In Israel, he was celebrated as a star player at Maccabi Haifa, a club known for its diversity, but faced backlash in October 2023 when he did not publicly condemn the Hamas attack. In the UAE, his signing was framed as a historic symbol of the Abraham Accords. In Turkey, his move to Kurdish Amedspor was met with a warm welcome from supporters, though it also drew criticism given regional sensitivities.

He maintains an Instagram presence at @diaasabia10, though he keeps his personal life out of the spotlight. [edit]

Dia Saba's fame has always been a strange, borderless thing. He is not a global superstar, but his name has ricocheted across continents, from Israeli Premier League pitches to Chinese lockdowns, from Dubai's neon to a Kurdish club's passionate welcome. iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated him, yet he currently holds no placement in the published rankings, neither in the Global Top 1,000 nor in any Top-100 scope list. That absence speaks not to obscurity but to a fame that defies neat categorization: he is a player whose significance is measured in geopolitical ripples, not search volume.

His fanbase has no formal name, no organized campaigns, no rituals. Instead, his supporters are the fans of the clubs he has graced, Maccabi Haifa's diverse faithful, Guangzhou's curious onlookers, Al-Nasr's history-makers, and Amedspor's fervent Kurds. The most telling moment came in August 2025, when he arrived in Diyarbakir and Amedspor supporters greeted him with warmth, a scene that circulated on social media as proof that sport can transcend politics. That reception, more than any ranking, defined his place in the modern game.[edit]

Dia Saba's career is studded with historic firsts and humanizing moments. He was the first Israeli player to sign for a Dubai club, a milestone tied to the 2020 Abraham Accords. During his time in China, he described the COVID-19 isolation bubble as "like prison," a quote that resonated with fans worldwide. He has worn shirt number 91 early in his career, later switching to 14 at Amedspor. His birthdate is listed as November 17 in some sources, though most record November 18, 1992. He is left-footed, a trait that has become a defining part of his playing style.

One story fans still retell is his August 2025 arrival at Amedspor, a Kurdish club in Diyarbakir, where supporters welcomed him with open arms despite the region's strong pro-Palestinian sentiment, a moment widely shared as a symbol of solidarity. Another iconic moment came in October 2023, when he was booed by Maccabi Haifa fans after his wife shared an Instagram post related to the Gaza conflict, highlighting the complex intersection of his identity. And in December 2020, World Soccer magazine named him one of its "People of the Year" for his trailblazing move to Al-Nasr.[edit]

Public information about Saba's family is limited. He has spoken about missing his family during his time in China's COVID bubble, indicating close ties. No details about his parents, siblings, or his own household have been reported. [edit]

Saba's career has been defined by club affiliations rather than long-term collaborations with specific coaches or teammates. His moves have been influenced by geopolitical events, including the Abraham Accords and regional politics. [edit]

No public information exists regarding Dia Saba's dating history, romantic relationships, marriage, or children. None of the available sources mention a spouse, partner, or family of his own. He keeps his personal life private, and as of 2026, his relationship status remains unknown. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Dia Saba's net worth at $10 million. His primary income has come from professional football contracts, most notably the three-year deal with Al-Nasr worth $3 million per season. Before that, he earned salaries at Israeli clubs and Guangzhou R&F, though exact figures are not public. His current contract with Amedspor is less lucrative. There is no public information about endorsement deals or business ventures. His wealth has grown steadily through his playing career, with the UAE contract representing his peak earning period.[edit]