Hapoel Be'er Sheva Signs Yonas Malede After Long Negotiations and Personal Meeting

Hapoel Be'er Sheva announced on August 16, 2026, the signing of Israeli forward Yonas Malede from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Coach Ran Kozuch expressed great satisfaction upon hearing the deal was finalized, having sought experienced Israeli players with top-level backgrounds since last season. Despite Malede not playing regularly for over two years, Kozuch was impressed by the player's personality and ambition, recalling a chance meeting with Malede on a beach in Thailand two years ago where they spoke for over an hour.

Financial issues had previously blocked the transfer, but Malede agreed to a reduced salary of 280,000 euros per season on a three-year contract before bonuses, enabling the move. Kozuch and Malede spoke for the first time yesterday before Be'er Sheva's final training session in Israel ahead of their UEFA Champions League playoff match in Bucharest. The negotiations were managed by Dudu Dahan, who also serves as Kozuch's agent.

Malede, married with a child, will relocate to Be'er Sheva and follow a physical training program designed by fitness coach Israel Zabiti. Kozuch plans to deploy him more as a winger than a central striker, competing for playing time with players like Zahi Ahmad, Javon East, Ganah, and Mohammad Abu Romi. The coach emphasized the need for a deep, disciplined squad and expressed confidence in Malede's ability to return to his previous performance levels, stating, "I believe in you. We will give you all the tools."

Signing a three-year contract signals both patience from the club and faith in Malede, who is eager to prove himself after a challenging period. This move aims to strengthen Be'er Sheva's squad depth ahead of their European campaign and domestic competitions.