Hapoel Haifa is preparing for the 2026/27 season and wants to strengthen the defensive midfield position. On Wednesday, the club announced that a young midfielder who recently played in the United Arab Emirates will arrive for a trial, as first reported by Sport Channel.
The player is 21-year-old Cheick Oumar Keita from Mali. He came through a local youth academy and moved in summer 2024 to Hatta Club in the UAE second division.
Keita made 16 appearances in all competitions for Hatta, totaling 1,011 minutes, and recorded one league assist. Hapoel Haifa has made reinforcing its young core a priority in the current transfer window, which has already led to the signings of Itai Zafrani, Tal Naeem and Sali Pahima.