Liyam Dan, who was supposed to begin training on Monday with players returning from loan at Maccabi Netanya, instead signed unexpectedly on Sunday night with Maccabi Petah Tikva. Dan and his representatives took advantage of the fact that Netanya did not exercise its option on him, making him a free agent and preventing Netanya from collecting development compensation.
Netanya was displeased with the move, even though its relationship with Maccabi Petah Tikva is considered good and the two clubs have completed deals before. The sides eventually reached a compromise under which Netanya will keep a percentage of any future transfer fee.
Netanya also says it had not been counting on Dan as part of next season's squad. The club is set to hold a training session today, where coach Roni Levy and his staff will try to assess young players, some of whom will join the senior team's preseason training on Tuesday.