Maccabi Tel Aviv Signs Scottish Football Legend James Tavernier

Maccabi Tel Aviv has officially announced the signing of James Tavernier, the former captain of Scottish club Rangers and a renowned British defender, in a move described as one of the most dazzling and prestigious in Israeli football history. The 34-year-old right-back successfully passed his medicals and has signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional season. Tavernier will reportedly earn around 700,000 euros per season, making him the highest-paid player in the Israeli Premier League. He will wear the number 2 jersey.

Tavernier expressed his excitement about joining Maccabi Tel Aviv, citing the club's history, tradition, and aspirations for titles. He mentioned that he heard a lot about the club from former teammate Kenny Miller and is eager to experience a new culture and help the team achieve its goals. Tavernier joins Maccabi after an illustrious 11-season spell at Rangers, where he served as captain since 2018, winning a league title, a Scottish Cup, and a League Cup. In 565 appearances for Rangers, he scored an impressive 144 goals and provided 148 assists from his defensive position. He holds the all-time record for goals scored by a defender in British football with 152 career goals and was the top scorer in the Europa League in the 2021/22 season.

The announcement of Tavernier's signing came just hours before Maccabi Tel Aviv's match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Tavernier, who had been training with the team, was registered with the Football Association along with Gabi Kanyevsky. The club worked against the clock to complete the international transfer forms, aiming for him to be included in the squad for the Be'er Sheva game or, failing that, to debut in the Tel Aviv derby next week.

In parallel with Tavernier's arrival, Maccabi Tel Aviv has resolved its foreign player quota issue by loaning Venezuelan midfielder Crvyn Andrade to Volos of the Greek Super League until the end of the season. Volos will cover his entire salary. The 21-year-old Andrade, acquired last season for 1.7 million euros, struggled to integrate professionally. He initially preferred a return to Brazil but agreed to the loan after negotiations. Andrade, who is serving a suspension from the Cup final incident, will miss two additional matches in Greece before he can make his official debut.