Israeli Football Transfer Window Shatters Records Amidst Major Player Movement

The Israeli football transfer window for the 2026/27 season has officially closed, marking a period of significant player activity and financial transactions. This summer's window, which opened on June 29 and concluded on Wednesday, saw a record-breaking total of 30 million euros spent by league clubs on player sales, surpassing the previous two-year record. In contrast, approximately 15 million euros were invested in acquiring new players.

Hapoel Tel Aviv was the biggest spender, acquiring Douglas Owusu from Red Star Belgrade for 2.2 million euros. Hapoel Be'er Sheva made the most expensive acquisition of an Israeli player, paying 1.5 million euros to Maccabi Petah Tikva for Niv Yehoshua.

Maccabi Tel Aviv emerged as the top earner from player sales, generating 8.15 million euros from the transfers of Abu Farhi to MLS club Colorado and Revivo to a Spanish league team. Newly promoted Hapoel Ramat Gan was the most active club in terms of signings, bringing in 23 new players, including seven foreign players. Bnei Sakhnin also added a substantial number of new faces, signing 15 players.

Maccabi Tel Aviv made the fewest new signings, adding only four players to their roster. A record 48 new foreign players arrived in Israel during this transfer window, with Maccabi Haifa, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and Bnei Sakhnin each signing five foreign players.

Additionally, 11 Israeli players returned to the domestic league from abroad, while 12 Israeli footballers departed the league to pursue opportunities overseas. The transfer window will remain closed until January 11, 2027, with teams only able to sign free agents in the interim.