Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Transfer Uncertainty Over Kings Kangwa Ahead of Champions League Qualifiers

Negotiations between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and AEK Athens over the transfer of Zambian midfielder Kings Kangwa are at a critical juncture. AEK Athens initially agreed to purchase Kangwa for around 4 million euros, but Be'er Sheva insists that Kangwa must play in their upcoming two-leg Champions League qualifying matches against Vikingur, with the first leg scheduled for Tuesday evening in Iceland. AEK has warned that if Kangwa participates in these matches, their current offer will no longer stand, and they would only be willing to pay a significantly lower fee, putting the deal at risk.

The Greek club's motivation is based on UEFA regulations that prevent a player from representing two different clubs in the same qualifying phase. If Kangwa plays for Be'er Sheva against Vikingur, he would be ineligible to play for AEK in their subsequent Champions League playoff matches. Despite this, Be'er Sheva is determined to field Kangwa in both matches, prioritizing their chances of advancing.

Be'er Sheva values the potential sporting and financial benefits of progressing past Vikingur. Qualification would guarantee at least a spot in the UEFA Conference League group stage, securing a UEFA payout of 3.17 million euros even if eliminated in later rounds. The club hopes Kangwa will maintain professionalism amid the transfer tension.

The club recalls a similar 2019 incident involving defender Hatem Elhamed, who held a transfer offer from Celtic contingent on not playing in European qualifiers. Elhamed refused to play on match day, was removed from the squad, and transferred shortly after. Be'er Sheva hopes Kangwa will not follow the same path and will participate fully in the upcoming fixtures.