Ouaka Eshta is expected to leave Hapoel Jerusalem when his contract expires and sign with Dinamo Batumi of the Georgian league. The captain of the Jerusalem club is on the verge of finalizing the move abroad, and the club is set to part with him at the end of the week.
Hapoel Jerusalem’s professional director, Shai Aharon, updated supporters after meeting with Eshta. “A little while ago Ouaka left my house, after a consultation, update and blessing on the way toward his move to a team overseas,” Aharon said. “We very much want him to stay at Hapoel, of course, the door is always open for him and I am sure he will come back through it, but for now we will accompany him with love to an important change for him. We will keep our fingers crossed that the move succeeds.”
Aharon said the departure is part of a broader summer rebuild, alongside the exits this week of Badash, Harel, Ibi and Ruel. He stressed that these moves are planned, not player losses, and said the club will not give up on the players it is building around unless it receives proper compensation.
According to Aharon, Hapoel Jerusalem is preparing for a major change after a difficult season. He said the club had hoped to keep the existing core and do the same work on a smaller budget, but the season showed that the successful team of recent years had reached its limit. He added that a new coach wants a different style and different players, and that new signings will arrive during the summer, including several local squad players, three dominant foreign players, in addition to Damaskan, for attacking positions, and another foreign player in central midfield. Aharon said the goal is a stronger and more entertaining team, and invited fans to next Friday’s association members’ meeting.
