Maccabi Haifa Signs Forward Andrea Novakovic Amid Controversial Exit from Italian Club

Maccabi Haifa announced on July 16, 2026, that American-Serbian forward Andrea Novakovic has agreed to terms with the club and is expected to arrive in Israel next week for medical tests. Novakovic's previous club was Italian Serie B team Reggina, where he made 33 appearances and provided five assists. Despite having a contract for another year, Novakovic left Reggina following a major controversy.

According to Italian media ilrestodelcarlino, Novakovic never developed a strong connection with the local fans and was reportedly one of the leaders of a player revolt that contributed to the dismissal of Reggina's coach Davide Dionigi. Alongside the team captain and another player, Novakovic was implicated in this unrest. His departure reportedly saved Reggina a significant financial burden, as his salary was high and the club was eager to resolve the situation quickly.

The club considered waiting to sell him at a higher price later, but the risks outweighed the potential benefits, especially since any transfer would have occurred only by late August, requiring two more months of salary payments. The sporting director decided that an immediate resolution was preferable to restore stability. Novakovic leaves Reggina with a "bitter feeling," having rarely fulfilled his potential during his tenure there.