Benik Afobe Begins New Chapter With Andres Iniesta’s Gulf United
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Benik Afobe has completed a move to UAE Pro League side Gulf United, becoming the latest signing under new head coach Andres Iniesta.
The transfer marks another milestone in Afobe’s well-traveled career, with the 33-year-old now representing the 17th club of his professional journey. After enjoying a successful spell in English football, the experienced forward has continued to impress since moving to the United Arab Emirates in 2023.
Afobe built a strong reputation in the English Football League, making more than 250 appearances across the Championship and League One, while also featuring 63 times in the Premier League.
A product of Arsenal’s academy, he initially struggled to establish himself during several loan spells at clubs including Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday. His breakthrough came during the 2014/15 season when he scored 10 goals in 22 League One matches for MK Dons.
His form convinced Wolves to invest £2 million in January 2015, and the striker immediately repaid their faith by scoring 13 goals in 21 Championship appearances. He finished that campaign with 23 goals in 32 matches across all competitions.
Just 12 months later, Bournemouth broke their transfer record to sign Afobe for £10 million. Although he managed 10 Premier League goals during his time on the south coast, he struggled to cement himself as a regular starter before returning to the Championship.
Subsequent spells with Wolves, Stoke City, Bristol City and Millwall followed before Afobe took his career to the Middle East in 2023.
His latest destination is Gulf United, a Dubai-based club established in 2018. The ambitious side entered the UAE football pyramid in the 2021/22 season and quickly climbed the divisions with back-to-back promotions under former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor.
Now, Gulf United are beginning a new era under Spanish football icon Andres Iniesta, who recently stepped into his first senior managerial role after retiring from playing. The former Barcelona and Spain legend boasts an extraordinary playing résumé, having won multiple La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies, two European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Iniesta will be aiming to improve on Gulf United’s 10th-place finish last season, and Afobe’s arrival could provide a significant boost. The striker heads into the campaign in excellent form after scoring seven goals in just eight appearances for Al-Arabi last season.
Afobe also joins a growing list of former EFL players at Gulf United. Midfielder Leroy Fer, previously of Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City, has been with the club since 2025, while former Celtic and Norwich City striker Gary Hooper also enjoyed a spell with the Eagles. Ex-Nottingham Forest forward Lars Veldwijk was another notable addition, scoring 14 goals in 12 matches during the 2024/25 season.
With Iniesta beginning his managerial career and Gulf United continuing to strengthen their squad, the club will be hoping Afobe’s proven goalscoring ability can help drive them toward greater success in the upcoming season.
