Rabat – Arsenal star Thomas Partey has said he converted to Islam because of his Moroccan girlfriend Sara Bella.
The Ghana midfielder said he decided to convert to Islam for the woman he loves, the footballer revealed in a video that Ghanian broadcaster Nana Aba Anamoah shared online.
The football player said that he has been in a love story that he hardly spoke about, emphasizing that he grew up with Muslims.
The football player also revealed his Muslim name and suggested he and Sara are now a married couple. “I’m already married and my Muslim name is Yakubu,” he said.
Partey announced his conversion to Islam in March when a photo of him holding the Quran went viral.
The football player’s decision divided opinion among his fans across the world, according to the football news website Goal.
Several athletes and public figures have over the past years announced their conversion to Islam.
Partey’s embrace of the Islamic faith came days after Dutch football and AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf also announced his conversion to Islam.
The latest estimates indicate there are currently over 2 billion Muslims across the world.
Meanwhile, a 2017 survey from Pew Research Center found that Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. According to the survey, the world’s Muslim populations will expand by 73% between the years 2010-2050. By comparison, Christianity, the second-fastest-growing religion, is projected to grow by only 35% during the same period.
Read also: Football Legend Clarence Seedorf Converts to Islam
