Hapoel Tel Aviv players' exit follows transfer of striker Elyaniv Barda.
By SHARON SOLOMONTuamah 88(photo credit: )
The exodus of players from Hapoel Tel Aviv continued on Thursday with Salim Tuamah and Gili Vermut both signing for clubs in Belgium.
Tuamah completed his much anticipated move to Standard Liege while Vermut will play for AA Gent.
The pair follow striker Elyaniv Barda who was transferred to Belgian side KRC Genk earlier this week.
"It's time to prove myself at the top level," An ecstatic Tuamah said. "I'm glad Hapoel [Tel Aviv] agreed to release me. This club will always be in my heart and I'll never forget the support of the team's fans. Barda, Vermut and I will do our best to make the Israeli fans proud."
Tuamah was purchased for a reported fee of $1.3 million after intensive negotiations with Hapoel Tel Aviv chairman Moni Harel.
Vermut was the second player to make the transit to the Belgian Jupiler League earlier this week, after he agreed to a contract from AA Gent. Tel Aviv was offered compensation of $330,000 for the tenacious midfielder. Gent finished fourth in the league last season.
All three players had release clauses in their contracts in case of offers from European clubs and Tel Aviv's management was unable to avoid the transfers.
Hapoel Tel Aviv has not wasted any time in finding replacements for its dominant players.
Striker Lior Asulin has inked a long-term deal with the club and Vincent Enyeama has been purchased from Bnei Yehuda to fill in for influential goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech. Coach Guy Luzon is also on verge of signing Moshe Biton from arch rival Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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