Maccabi Tel Aviv Completes Roster by Signing Russian Middle Blocker

Maccabi Tel Aviv is gearing up for the upcoming 2026/2027 season by signing its third foreign player, Russian middle blocker Nikita Aksiutin. He will join Brazilian players Danilo Galinski, a setter, and Renato Santos, a hitter, who have already begun training with the team. With Aksiutin's signing, Maccabi Tel Aviv has filled its quota of foreign players allowed in the league.

Aksiutin, 32, stands at 2.01 meters tall and arrives from VK MGTU Moscow of the Russian Superleague. He brings 12 years of experience from top Russian clubs. In the 2021/22 season, he played in Turkey's top league and later in Libya, where he won a championship. A decade ago, with Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, he reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The team's key players for the upcoming season are expected to include the new foreign signings, along with Israeli-Argentinean Ramiro Núñez, who joined this summer, and continuing Israeli players Gendy Sokolov, Slava Chekula, and Omri Roitman.

Aksiutin expressed his excitement about joining Maccabi Tel Aviv, stating, "I am very happy to join Maccabi Tel Aviv and be part of the Tel Aviv family. I am already looking forward to starting the season: getting on the court, meeting the fans, and fighting for every point for them. I wish us a good season, full of victories."

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Gal Galili commented on the new signing, "Nikita is a player with a good and diverse offensive game. He will also help us with reception and overall with the experience and abilities he brings from the Russian Superleague. We believe he will have a significant role in our team this year."