Hapoel Tel Aviv Re-signs Young Forward Sami Adam Amid Transfer Window Drama

Hapoel Tel Aviv has secured the return of 21-year-old forward Sami Adam during the final day of the transfer window. Adam, who came up through the club's youth academy and was on loan at Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa last season, is now available for coach Eliniv Barda. However, his return is the result of a complicated saga involving a failed move to Ukrainian club Kryvbas.

Adam was originally slated to join Kryvbas, managed by Patrick van Leeuwen, in January. The move stalled due to issues with his temporary Sudanese passport, which prevented him from obtaining a visa for Ukraine. Kryvbas was willing to extend his contract and help resolve the visa problem, but only if he obtained a permanent passport, either Sudanese or Israeli.

Due to bureaucratic delays in obtaining a permanent Israeli passport, Adam traveled to Ethiopia for three weeks to secure a Sudanese passport. Upon his return to Israel, further bureaucratic hurdles complicated his entry into Ukraine. After a six-month waiting period, Kryvbas signed another player for Adam's position, leading to his current return to Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Adam, who was born in Israel to Sudanese refugees and holds Israeli citizenship along with a Sudanese passport, can play as a left winger or a forward. He made his senior debut for Hapoel Tel Aviv in May 2024 and scored two goals for Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa in the National League during the 2024/25 season. He will be with Hapoel Tel Aviv at least until January.