Zahavi leaves Hapoel, bound for Palermo

Eran Zahavi became only the second Israeli to join a Serie A club, completing his transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv to Italian side Palermo.

By ALLON SINAI
eran zahavi 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
eran zahavi 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Eran Zahavi became only the second Israeli to join a Serie A club on Tuesday, completing his transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv to Italian side Palermo.
Zahavi, who will turn 24 next month, signed a five-year deal with the Rosanero, moving for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of one million euro.
Israel national team assistant coach Tal Banin was the first Israeli to join a Serie A side, playing for Brescia between 1997 and 2000.
Zahavi, who was playing for Ironi Ramat Hasharon of the National League just three seasons ago, joins Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Danny Bondarv (Volga Nizhny Novgorod), Gili Vermut (Kaiserslautern) and likely Itai Shechter, who is still yet to finalize his move to Kaiserslautern, in the summer exodus out of Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, the ongoing dispute between Hapoel co-owners Moni Harel and Eli Tabib reached the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday.
Following months of squabbling, Tabib announced in May that he had purchased full control of the club for NIS 6 million in accordance with the Buy Me Buy You clause entered in the original agreement between the two owners.
However, Harel quickly claimed that Tabib hadn’t transferred to him the money as required and appealed to the District Court.
On Tuesday, Judge Ruth Ronen gave Harel two days to decide if he plans to question Tabib’s side, which would significantly prolong the judicial process. If he declines that option, Ronen is expected to give her verdict in approximately two weeks.