Maccabi Tel Aviv Nears James Tavernier Signing Amid Bureaucratic Hurdles

Maccabi Tel Aviv is on the verge of officially announcing the signing of James Tavernier, a highly anticipated acquisition for the club. Tavernier has reportedly completed all necessary medical tests and even participated in a training session at the team's facility in Kiryat Shalom on Friday. The delay in the official announcement stems from bureaucratic procedures in England, specifically awaiting work permit approval.

According to reports from the Daily Record, Tavernier's transfer is being held up by the need to finalize his work permit. Despite this, there is a possibility he could be available for Maccabi Tel Aviv's significant match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva as early as Monday evening. However, for Tavernier to be officially registered for league matches, Maccabi Tel Aviv must release an existing foreign player to make room within the team's quota of foreign players, which is currently full.

Tavernier, a 34-year-old right-back, joins Maccabi Tel Aviv as a free agent after an 11-year tenure with Scottish club Rangers. He will reunite with Kenny Miller, a former teammate at Rangers, who is now part of Maccabi Tel Aviv's coaching staff. During his time at Rangers, Tavernier was a key offensive contributor, accumulating 148 goals and 141 assists. In his final season, where he saw reduced playing time, he scored eight goals and provided four assists, ultimately expressing his desire to leave the club.