Maccabi Netanya Signs Benin National Team Defender Olivier Verdon

Israeli football club Maccabi Netanya announced on Tuesday the signing of Benin national team defender Olivier Verdon. The 30-year-old center-back has agreed to a two-year contract with an option for an additional season, pending successful medical examinations.

Verdon, who stands at 1.90 meters tall, was born in France and began his professional career in Angoulême before moving to Bordeaux. He made 37 appearances and scored four goals for Bordeaux's reserve team and debuted for the senior team in France's top league in 2017. He then played for Sochaux in the second division, followed by a stint with Deportivo Alavés in Spain's La Liga, and a loan spell at Belgian club K.A.S. Eupen, where he played 22 games.

His most significant career period came in 2020 when he was loaned to Bulgarian powerhouse Ludogorets Razgrad. After a successful season, he was permanently signed and became a key defender for the club. During his time at Ludogorets, Verdon amassed over 200 appearances across all competitions, scoring 17 goals, including 12 in the Bulgarian league and four in European competitions. He won 12 titles with Ludogorets, including five Bulgarian league championships, two Bulgarian Cups, and five Bulgarian Super Cups.