Awuka Ashta Leaves Hapoel Jerusalem for Dinamo Batumi

Hapoel Jerusalem captain Awuka Ashta has signed with Dinamo Batumi of Georgia and will join the club after his contract ends. The move was made official on Friday, June 19, 2026, and Hapoel Jerusalem formally said farewell to him after 266 appearances for the club.

In its statement, Hapoel Jerusalem called Ashta “the player most identified with modern Hapoel Jerusalem,” saying he was first discovered 15 years ago in the club’s neighborhood league, progressed through the youth system, joined the senior team a decade ago, and wore the captain’s armband for the past three seasons. The club also said he was the team’s top scorer last season from defensive midfield.

Ashta said that if someone had told him at age 11, when he started playing at the “Mabat” field in the neighborhood league, that 15 years later he would lead Hapoel Jerusalem in the Premier League and score in derbies, he would have thought they were “living in a movie.” He said the decision was meant to give himself a new challenge and grow further, and added that he would “return home immediately.”

He described his bond with the red fans as special and said words cannot express how much he appreciates and loves them. “Hapoel Jerusalem is the home, the heart and the soul,” he said, adding that he grew up as a child in the supporters’ section and that the fans backed him throughout his journey.