First signing: Ran Vaatouri joins Ashdod
The 28-year-old defender is joining the port city club after three years at Maccabi Herzliya. Sports 5 Published: 11.06.26, 18:05 (Credit: M.S. Ashdod Football Club) | Photo: Sports 5
After a decade in the top division, M.S. Ashdod will begin the 2026/27 season in the National League, with Jackie Ben Zaken's team hoping to return to the forefront of Israeli football by the end of the season. Today (Thursday), the port city club announced its first signing, with the addition of defender Ran Vaatouri, who signed with the club for one season with an option to extend.
The 28-year-old player, who grew up at Maccabi Tel Aviv, was a key player over the past three years at Maccabi Herzliya, as the Yellows came close last season to earning promotion to the Premier League. Before that, he also played for Hapoel Petah Tikva, Ness Ziona and Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam. Over the past three seasons, the player scored 10 goals, and said after signing: "I am very happy to join Ashdod. I am coming with a lot of motivation and a desire to succeed in order to meet the challenge and bring Ashdod back to the Premier League."
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