Maccabi TA captures Bnei Yehuda's Atar

Young striker becomes one of the most expensive players in Israeli soccer history.

By ALLON SINAI
Eliran Atar 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Eliran Atar 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Maccabi Tel Aviv completed the signing of Eliran Atar on Sunday, paying Bnei Yehuda $1.2 million to make the young striker one of the most expensive players in Israeli soccer history.
Atar has been one of the most sought after commodities in the Premier League for the last couple of seasons, but in the end there was little doubt he would end up at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Maccabi owner Mitch Goldhar is holding nothing back in his attempt to help return the yellow-and-blue to its former glory, and he had no intention of being outbid for Atar’s services.
Atar, who signed a four-year contract, is set to earn $250,000 a season and becomes Maccabi’s third signing of the summer, joining Roberto Colautti and Yoav Ziv.
“We are very happy this young and talented striker is joining us,” Maccabi coach Avi Nimni said. “We believe Eliran Atar will fit in with our team makeup of young promising players and experienced veterans.”
Atar’s signing is unlikely to be Maccabi’s last splurge in the transfer market.
If rumors are to be believed, the forward, who scored 14 league goals in the 2008/09 season, but only eight during the recent campaign, is set to be followed shortly by Maccabi Netanya defender Klemi Saban. Israel internationals Avi Strul and Barak Itzhaki also likely to move to Tel Aviv.