Ezra rejoins Atar with transfer to Maccabi Haifa

Ever since Reuven Atar left Netanya to become Haifa’s new coach it was clear Ezra would become one of Maccabi’s top targets.

By ALLON SINAI
Hen Ezra 370 (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hen Ezra 370
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
The transfer saga of the summer in Israeli soccer finally came to an end on Sunday after Hen Ezra moved from Maccabi Netanya to Maccabi Haifa for a fee believed to be in the region of NIS 3.7 million.
Haifa received 75 percent of Ezra’s transfer rights for the fee and will pay the 23- year-old midfielder around NIS 1 million for the remaining 25 percent, which he currently holds.
Ever since Reuven Atar left Netanya to become Haifa’s new coach it was clear Ezra would become one of Maccabi’s top targets and Atar got his wish on Sunday after an on-and-off negotiation.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Ezra, who scored 12 goals in an excellent campaign for Netanya last season.
“I’m delighted to be joining Haifa, the biggest club in Israel.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Netanya for being a warm and loving home and for the opportunity I was given.
“From now on, I’m completely focused on helping Haifa to success and with god’s help I will succeed.”
Ezra, who is set to earn around $180,000 per season over the four-year deal, is the third player Atar has added to his squad, joining Samuel Scheimann, who was signed from Dutch club Excelsior Rotterdam, and Oded Elkayam, brought in from Hapoel Haifa.
The Greens, who will hold their first training session ahead of the 2012/13 season on Thursday, are not done with their summer shopping, with Atar especially keen to further bolster his midfield.