Raphov’s main summer task at Maccabi Haifa: clear salary room for reinforcements

Maccabi Haifa is preparing for the coming season with a broad squad overhaul in mind, as the club tries to return to the title race. Head coach Barak Bachar is planning major changes, but club officials say the rebuild must stay financially controlled. Owner Yaakov Shahar is ready to invest in strengthening the team, though the club insists it will not take on unusual financial risks.

A central problem is dealing with players who are not in the professional plans, but are still on expensive contracts. Matthias Nahuel is reportedly earning about 450,000 euros a season, Trivante Stewart and Xander Severina about 400,000 each, Show about 370,000, and Pedrão and Petar Agba about 350,000 euros each. Altogether, these unwanted contracts amount to roughly 2.32 million euros net per year.

The club is looking for solutions through loans, sales, or compromise deals to terminate contracts. The person leading this effort is sporting director Lior Refaelov, whose job is to reduce the budget burden and make room for incoming signings.

Maccabi Haifa will begin training for the 2026/27 season in two weeks, on June 23. So far, the only new arrival is Yair Mordechai, who joined from Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Bachar has said that signing an attacking midfielder in the No. 10 role is a top priority, and the club expects at least eight new players to arrive during the current transfer window.