▲ Pablo Sabbag of Suwon FC
Pablo Sabbag, 29, a former top scorer in South Korea's professional football K League 1, is joining Cerezo Osaka of Japan's J1 League.
Cerezo Osaka announced his signing today (August 10).
Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, to a Syrian father and a Palestinian mother, Sabbag holds both Colombian and Syrian nationalities.
Known for utilizing his towering 190 cm height in play, Sabbag made his professional debut with Colombian powerhouse Deportivo Cali. After stints with Tondela in Portugal and Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, he joined Suwon FC in 2025.
Playing under the registered name Sabbag for K League 1 side Suwon FC, he made 36 league appearances last year—including two playoff matches (scoring 1 goal)—and claimed the top scorer title with 18 goals and 2 assists.
He was also named to the K League 1 Best XI striker category.
However, following Suwon FC's relegation to K League 2, he left the team and spent this year playing for Al-Ahli Tripoli in Libya's top division.
Sabbag has also played for the Syrian national team since 2024, earning 11 international caps and scoring 4 goals.
Through Cerezo Osaka, Sabbag expressed his determination, saying, "I am truly happy to be here," and adding, "I will pour everything I have into this team."
Sabbag, who enjoys singing and even released a single album during the season last year, added, "I hope we can celebrate many goals together. And I hope we can sing a few songs together as well."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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