Hapoel Be'er Sheva Nears Champions League Playoffs with Record UEFA Prize Money

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is on the verge of making history as they stand just 90 minutes away from qualifying for the UEFA Champions League playoffs following their impressive 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade. Qualification would secure the club a substantial cumulative UEFA prize of 8.6 million euros, surpassing any amount previously earned by an Israeli team reaching the Champions League playoffs. This sum includes a 4.29 million euro participation bonus for the playoffs and an additional 4.31 million euros from Europa League participation if eliminated, with most payments made in lump sums. If Be'er Sheva advances past the winner between Aarhus and Sabah, they could earn up to 18.62 million euros, with 17.87 million paid at once, exceeding the amounts received by Maccabi Haifa, although Haifa's overall revenue was higher due to hosting matches at Sammy Ofer Stadium.

The current squad, valued at approximately 18 million euros excluding injured Dan Biton, is stronger than eight of the fourteen Israeli Premier League teams based on squad value alone. The club’s foreign player roster is largely settled, featuring key players such as Jibril Diop, Pedro Amador, Lucas Ventura, João Victor, Igor Zlatanović, and Javon East. Be'er Sheva aims to add one significant foreign signing, likely a defender and an attacking midfielder, to replace Kings Kangwa before the playoffs. The club's recruitment strategy focuses on quality over quantity, capitalizing on opportunities to sign players nearing contract ends at reasonable fees, as demonstrated by recent acquisitions like Javon East and Mohammed Abu Romi.

With potential earnings from UEFA competitions and the sale of Kings Kangwa, Be'er Sheva could generate around 12.4 million euros this summer, enabling them to pursue higher-profile signings. The club’s management, led by Alona Barkat and Ran Kozuch, has built a strong and sustainable team capable of developing talent and competing at the highest level in Israeli football. Even if eliminated in the playoffs, the financial boost and experience gained would further solidify Be'er Sheva’s position as one of Israel's top football clubs.