Hapoel Haifa is preparing for the 2026/27 season and wants to strengthen its defensive midfield position. On Wednesday, the club said a young midfielder who recently played in the United Arab Emirates will arrive for a trial, as first reported by Sport 5.
The player is 21-year-old Cheick Oumar Keita, a Mali native who came through a local youth academy before moving in summer 2024 to Hatta Club, which plays in the UAE second division. At Hatta, he made 16 appearances in all competitions, totaling 1,011 minutes, and recorded one league assist.
Hapoel Haifa has made reinforcing its young core a priority in the current transfer window. That approach has already led to the signings of Itay Zafrani, Tal Naim and Sally Pahima. The club will now assess Keita before deciding whether to add him to the squad.