Maccabi Netanya Signs Romanian Midfielder Gabriel Simion

In a last-minute transfer, Israeli football club Maccabi Netanya has signed Romanian midfielder Gabriel Simion from Universitatea Cluj. The acquisition occurred just before the transfer window closed, addressing Netanya's long-standing need for reinforcement in the defensive midfield position.

Simion, who primarily plays as a defensive midfielder but can also operate in various defensive roles including center-back and right-back, joins the Israeli Premier League side after a period of loan spells at several Romanian clubs. He was initially part of the Steaua Bucharest youth system before moving to Cluj in the summer of 2022. Prior to his stint with Cluj, he had a loan spell at Aris Limassol.

Throughout his career, Simion has accumulated 133 appearances for Universitatea Cluj and 23 for Steaua Bucharest. He has scored one goal and provided three assists, with two of those assists coming against Maccabi Netanya during his time with Cluj. The club, known as 'The Diamonds', has been actively seeking to strengthen its squad, and Simion's arrival is seen as a key move before the transfer deadline.