Veteran English Defender James Tavernier Arrives in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv Deal

English defender James Tavernier, 34, arrived in Israel overnight ahead of a significant transfer to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tavernier, who spent 11 years with Scottish club Rangers, is set to undergo medical tests on Tuesday before finalizing his contract with the Israeli side.

He will reunite with Kenny Miller, his former teammate at Rangers, who is now a coach for Maccabi Tel Aviv, the holder of the State Cup. Tavernier joins Maccabi Tel Aviv as a free agent after concluding his long tenure with Rangers.

Tavernier, originally from Bradford, becomes Maccabi Tel Aviv's fourth summer signing, following Dan Glazer, Aster Skulker, and Gabi Kaniovsky. This move comes shortly after Maccabi Tel Aviv lost player Roy Revivo, who signed with Elche.

During his decade at Rangers, Tavernier was a key offensive player, contributing 148 goals and 141 assists. In his final season, he scored eight goals and provided four assists, despite losing his starting position. He had previously expressed a desire to leave Rangers and was linked with a return to Newcastle and other European clubs before opting for Maccabi Tel Aviv, who were recently eliminated from European competition.