Hapoel Jerusalem Signs 18-Year-Old Midfielder Hamza Muhammad to Youth Team

Hapoel Jerusalem officially announced the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Hamza Omar Muhammad on August 19, 2026. Muhammad was identified during the club's annual summer tournament held in Nigeria, where he impressed the coaching staff and earned playing time in the Toto Cup matches. The club described him as an aggressive defensive midfielder with strong passing abilities. Initially, Muhammad is expected to play primarily with the youth team, with plans to integrate him into the senior squad in the future.

This signing follows the club's recent trend of promoting young talents from the youth ranks to the senior team, as seen with players like John Otomao, Cedric Don, William Agada, and Adebayo Adeleye. Otomao, who joined the youth team last season, quickly advanced to the senior squad mid-season and remained a key player through the 2025/26 season before being sold for 1.6 million euros. Muhammad has already gained experience playing against top-tier teams such as Netanya, Maccabi Petah Tikva, and Hapoel Ramat Gan in the Toto Cup.

Hapoel Jerusalem continues to invest in young prospects, aiming to develop them into significant contributors at the senior level.