Metz Sporting Director Reveals Why Morgan Boukela Transfer to Maccabi Tel Aviv Collapsed
Maccabi Tel Aviv, who have started their 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season with five wins in five games, were close to signing Metz winger Morgan Boukela before the transfer window closed. The deal, however, fell through at the last minute.
Frederic Arpino, Metz's sporting director, spoke to the French press about the failed transfer, stating that "everything was almost agreed" with the Israeli club. He explained that the reason the transfer did not materialize was that "the Israeli club could not release another player, and therefore could not sign Boukela."
Boukela, who was reportedly very keen on joining Maccabi Tel Aviv, ultimately remained with Metz. Arpino indicated that the player himself was interested in the move, but circumstances in the transfer market prevented the deal from being completed.
Maccabi Tel Aviv had a busy end to the transfer window, securing the signings of Gabi Kaniukovsky and James Tavernier, in addition to their pursuit of Boukela.
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