Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Thursday, October 16, 2025, 12:58 / Updated Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:58
Jonjo Shelvey (33 years old) revealed the reason why he chose to sign with the Arabian Falcons, a team in the third league of the United Arab Emirates.
The former England international claims it wasn't the money that convinced him, revealing he earns around £2,000 a month, less than his brother who works at a hotel in London.
Jonjo Shelvey on why he chose to play in the UAE's third division: “My brother earns more in a hotel in London”
After 278 matches in the Premier League, Jonjo Shelvey chose to leave Great Britain, citing the fact that certain cities, especially the capital London, where he is from, have become very dangerous.
“I've seen comments like 'he went there for the money' and I'm thinking 'what money?'” There is no money in the lower leagues in the UAE.
The standard salary here is around £2,000 a month for a footballer. Compared to what I've earned throughout my career, that's nothing. My brother earns more working in a hotel in London. For me it was never about money.
I am happy and at peace. I'm at a point where I just want to enjoy football. It's about getting up in the morning, enjoying what you do and spending time with your family.
To be honest, I don't want to bring up my children in England. We were lucky to live in a nice part of the UK, but where I'm from initially you can't have nice things in my opinion.
I would never wear a watch in London again. You can't take your phone out on the street in London in my opinion.
I'm not a big fan of politics, I just see some things that happen. I see people arrested for tweeting, then all the flags and slogans with “take back our country”.
I'm not going to sit here and comment on things like that because I'm not smart enough and I'd get myself into trouble if I continued, but I just feel that Britain is not what it was 10-15 years ago,” said Jonjo Shelvey, according to the BBC.
Jonjo Shelvey started his career in Arsenal's academy, and at junior level he played for West Ham and Charlton. From there, the midfielder arrived at Liverpool in 2010, after the “cormorants” paid two million euros.
At Liverpool, Shelvey spent 3 years, during which time he ticked 47 matches in the Premier League, managing to score twice. In the first part of the 2011-2012 season, Shelvey was loaned to Blackpool in the Championship.
Later, the midfielder played two and a half seasons at Swansea and 6 and a half seasons at Newcastle. A brief stint at Nottingham Forest then followed, after which Shelvey moved to Turkey, where he played for Rizespor and Eyupspor.
Earlier this year, Shelvey returned to England at Burnley, but only made two Championship appearances, and the Englishman has now signed for the UAE's third-tier side.
