1. Early Life and Background
Dia Saba's personal background is rooted in his upbringing within a Muslim-Arab family in Israel, contributing to his unique position as a prominent Arab-Israeli athlete in the country's football scene.
1.1. Birth and Family
Saba was born on 18 November 1992, in Majd al-Krum, Israel, into a Muslim-Arab family. He is a cousin of former footballer Ahmad Saba'a, who also had a professional career in the sport. Saba stands at 66 in (168 cm).
2. Club Career
Dia Saba's professional football career spans several clubs across different leagues, showcasing his progression from youth systems to becoming a prolific goal scorer and a significant figure in Israeli football and beyond.
2.1. Youth Career
Saba began his football journey in the youth selections of Hapoel Haifa. He later moved to Beitar Nes Tubruk to continue his development before stepping into senior professional football.
2.2. Professional Career
Saba's senior career began in 2011, taking him through various Israeli clubs and eventually to leagues in China, the UAE, and Turkey.
2.2.1. Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.
In the summer of 2011, Saba joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, playing under manager Motti Ivanir. During his initial period, he made only two appearances over four months in the 2011-12 Israeli Premier League season.
2.2.2. Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. (loan)
In January 2012, Saba was loaned to Hapoel Be'er Sheva for the remainder of the season. He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut on 21 January 2012, in a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Haifa, a performance that significantly contributed to the club's efforts to remain in the league. He was subsequently loaned to Hapoel Be'er Sheva for another half-season in 2012-13.
2.2.3. Bnei Sakhnin F.C. (loan)
In February 2013, Saba moved to Bnei Sakhnin on another loan spell. During this period, he played in ten league matches but did not score any goals.
2.2.4. Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C.
Before the 2013-14 Israeli Premier League season, Saba signed with Maccabi Petah Tikva. He made 29 appearances for the club, contributing 3 goals during his tenure.
2.2.5. Maccabi Netanya F.C.
The following season, Saba signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Netanya, where he spent four significant years. He became a key player, scoring 51 goals in 114 appearances across all club competitions. Notably, he scored 24 league goals in the 2017-18 Israeli Premier League season, making him the league's top scorer.
2.2.6. Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.
On 17 September 2018, Saba returned to Hapoel Be'er Sheva, with the club paying Maccabi Netanya a record transfer fee of 2.00 M EUR. He signed a four-year contract valued at 1.60 M EUR. He made his debut in a goalless home game against Bnei Yehuda. Saba scored his first goal for Hapoel Be'er Sheva on 6 October 2018, in a 4-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva.
2.2.7. Guangzhou R&F F.C.
In January 2019, Saba made a move to the Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F, where he joined fellow Israel national team striker Eran Zahavi. During his time in China, he made 36 appearances and scored 18 goals.
2.2.8. Al-Nasr SC
In September 2020, Saba joined Al-Nasr in the United Arab Emirates, marking a historic moment as he became the first Israeli player to play in the UAE following the Israel-United Arab Emirates normalization agreement. He played 49 matches for Al-Nasr, scoring 17 goals.
2.2.9. Sivasspor
On 22 August 2022, Saba moved to Turkey, joining Süper Lig club Sivasspor. He played in 13 league matches and scored 5 goals during his stint with the team.
2.2.10. Maccabi Haifa F.C.
On 30 January 2023, Saba signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Maccabi Haifa, returning to the Israeli Premier League. He continues to play for the club as an attacking midfielder.
2.3. International Career
Dia Saba has represented the Israel national football team. He made his debut for the senior national team on 24 March 2018, in a friendly match against the Romania national team. His first international goal came on 14 October 2018, in a 2018-19 UEFA Nations League C match against the Albania national team, where he scored in a 2-0 victory. He scored two more goals on 15 November 2018, in a friendly match against Guatemala, contributing to a 7-0 win. Overall, he has scored 3 goals in 11 appearances for the national team.
3. Career Statistics
This section provides a comprehensive statistical breakdown of Dia Saba's club and international career, detailing his appearances and goals across various competitions.
3.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2011-12 | Israeli Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva (loan) | 2011-12 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2012-13 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | 20 | 1 | |||
| Total | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
| Bnei Sakhnin (loan) | 2012-13 | Israeli Premier League | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 12 | 1 | |
| Maccabi Petah Tikva | 2013-14 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | 33 | 8 | ||
| Maccabi Netanya | 2014-15 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2015-16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2016-17 | Liga Leumit | 32 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 36 | 17 | ||
| 2017-18 | Israeli Premier League | 34 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 26 | |
| 2018-19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||
| Total | 100 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 51 | ||
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2018-19 | Israeli Premier League | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 18 | 5 | |
| Guangzhou R&F | 2019 | Chinese Super League | 26 | 13 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 13 | ||
| 2020 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 18 | ||
| Al-Nasr | 2020-21 | UAE Pro League | 24 | 6 | - | 5 | 1 | - | 29 | 7 | ||
| 2021-22 | 25 | 11 | - | 4 | 2 | - | 29 | 13 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 20 | ||
| Sivasspor | 2022-23 | Süper Lig | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | 6 | 1 | 20 | 6 | |
| Maccabi Haifa | 2022-23 | Israeli Premier League | 16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 7 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 304 | 103 | 17 | 9 | 27 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 364 | 124 | ||
3.2. International
Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Saba goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 October 2018 | Turner Stadium, Be'er Sheva, Israel |  ALB | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2018-19 UEFA Nations League C |
| 2 | 15 November 2018 | Netanya Stadium, Netanya, Israel |  GUA | 5-0 | 7-0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 6-0 |
4. Honors and Achievements
Dia Saba has accumulated several significant team and individual honors throughout his career, reflecting his impact on the clubs he has played for and his personal performance as a footballer.
4.1. Team Honors
Maccabi Netanya
- Liga Leumit: 2016-17
Maccabi Haifa
- Israeli Premier League: 2022-23
- Israel Super Cup: 2023
4.2. Individual Honors
- Israel Football Players Organization's Player of the Season: 2017-18
- Israeli Premier League top scorer: 2017-18 (24 goals)
5. Impact and Significance
Dia Saba's career holds broader significance beyond his on-field achievements, particularly due to his identity as a prominent Arab-Israeli athlete and his pioneering move to the United Arab Emirates league. His transfer to Al-Nasr in September 2020 made him the first Israeli player to play in the UAE following the Israel-United Arab Emirates normalization agreement. This move was a landmark event, symbolizing a step towards greater cultural and sporting exchange in the region, and highlighting the potential for football to bridge divides. As an Arab-Israeli, Saba's success in professional football also serves as an inspiration and a symbol of integration within Israeli society.