Radinio Balker, a 27-year-old center back from Huddersfield, is close to joining Maccabi Haifa for 300,000 euros. The Dutch-born, Suriname international is seen as the likely replacement for Abdoulaye Seck, and the club is expected to integrate him gradually, especially since Haifa will begin its season in the Toto Cup rather than in Europe.
Balker’s career has been shaped by major injuries. He grew up at Almere City, started as a fullback, and after limited appearances because of recurring fitness problems, Groningen took a chance on his attacking potential. On only his third training day there, he tore his ACL. He later said, “I hoped it would look different,” adding, “but I will do everything to come back stronger.” He spent a long rehabilitation period, then returned in the summer of 2022 as a center back and became a regular, even as Groningen were relegated.
Huddersfield signed him in January for 1.3 million euros in a bid to help them survive in the Championship. He said playing in England was “every player’s dream” and called the move “the right step,” praising then-manager Darren Moore. Huddersfield still went down, Balker suffered more injuries, including a serious ankle issue, and played only 10 league matches in 2024/25. Last season he was much more available, starting 29 games and completing 13 straight full matches over two months as Huddersfield finished ninth in League One.
Haifa is getting a tall, long-legged defender who can carry the ball, pass well, and join attacks. He is strong enough to play with both feet and to deliver accurate long passes, but his main test will be adapting from a smaller, more defensive team to a side expected to dominate possession and compete for the title. His statistics include 2.7 ground duels per game, a 70% success rate in those duels, 60% in aerial duels, and five clearances per match. His injury history is a concern, but his recovery and mental resilience are viewed as positives.
