This past month saw a flurry of transfer activity involving Palestinian players. Below is a summary of all the moves we saw over the last thirty days:
Kaddoura stays put
In a surprise move, Palestine’s second choice goalkeeper did not leave Landskronna BoIS despite multiple reports indicating he would do so. Those rumors were so strong, that Landskronna started to plan for life without Amr Kaddoura and gave starts to his backup Svante Hildeman. The Hattin Hammer will remain with Landskronna for another two seasons with a contract lasting until the end of 2023.
Mahmoud Eid on the move again
The Thai league has seen quite a few Palestinians arrive on its shores over the past years. Mahmoud Eid follows in the footsteps of Jaka Ihbiesheh and Matías Jadue whilst joining Yashir Islame who currently features for Khon Kaen United on a regular basis. The Swedish born attacker joined Nong Bua Pitchaya at the beginning of the month and has already registered a goal and an assist in four league games.
The move was somewhat of a surprise given the fact that Eid had joined Al-Muharraq of the Bahraini top flight in August. This move makes it seven clubs in five years across six different countries.
Yaser Hamed finds a home
After spending half of 2021 without a club, Yaser Hamed Mayor has finally agreed a deal with Al-Masry of the Egyptian top tier. Hamed will be joined at the club by fellow Palestinian Mohamed Balah who joined Al-Masry at the start of the season in a dramatic move that saw him walk away from a verbal agreement with the newly promoted Eastern Company.
The Athletic Bilbao academy product last played for Al-Busaiteen in the Bahraini League and despite being without a club for the second half of 2021, played every minute of Palestine’s games at the FIFA Arab Cup.
Yaser Hamed’s contract runs until the end of the 2023/24 season. He becomes the fifth Palestinian to play for the club in recent years following Ramzy Saleh, Mahmoud Wadi, Mohammed Saleh, and the aforementioned Mohammed Balah.
Khaled Nabris trials in Spain, signs in Egypt
For most of last month it looked like Khaled Nabris would seal a sensation Spanish move by signing with Real Oviedo of La Liga B. Whilst in Spain, several clubs in Egypt fielded offers and the top scorer of the Gazan league in 2020/21 chose to join Ismaily over Smouha who were also interested in the services of the 18 year old.
Al-Nabris’s contract will run through the end of the 2025/26 season.
Mohammed Saleh back in the Egyptian Top Flight
After being deemed a surplus to requirements at Al-Masry, Mohammed Saleh dropped down a tier and joined Qana FC one month into the 2021/22 season. Less than four months later, Mohammed Saleh is back in the Egyptian Premier League having signed with Eastern Company. The centrebacks services will be needed if Eastern Company are to survive relegation. One of his first orders of business was to extract revenge on his former club in the League Cup. Saleh went the full 90′ in Eastern Company’s 2-1 win over Al-Masry.
Saleh Chihadeh secures deadline day move
In a completely unexpected move, Saleh Chihadeh has left Switzerland- where he has played his entire career for Future FC of the Egyptian Premier League. Chihadeh’s club FC Thun will have to find a way to replace the most efficient scorer in the Swiss Challenge League but were happy to accept the transfer fee. FC Thun who are part of the same ownership group as Barnsley (England), Esjberg (Denmark), Nancy (France), Oostende (Belgium) employ high level analytics, young players, and heavy pressing and as such the 27 year old striker was something of an outlier for them.
His presence over the past three seasons was guaranteed due to his goal scoring prowess. He leaves Switzerland having 110 goals in 255 games over his career including 8 goals and four assists in 17 league appearances this season.
Alghoul heads to Romania
In another deadline day move, Muhamed Alghoul has left promotion chasers NK Dubrava of the Croatian second tier. The former Croatia U21 international declared for Palestine before the Arab Cup and would have made his debut during that tournament if not for club commitments.
The playmaker’s new club, Academica Clinceni, finished fifth last season in Liga I (Romania’s top tier) but have endured a disastrous start to the 2021/2022 season and currently lie in last place on 11 points with 22 games played. Alghoul had been enjoying a fine season in Croatia scoring six goals and chipping in with an assist over 12 league appearances.
Shabab Al-Khalil make a splash
In attempting to record the best ever finish by a Palestinian side at the AFC Cup later this year, WBPL Champions have added to their arsenal by wooing Daoud Iraqi and Mohamed Darwish away from the German fourth tier.
In separate but related news, Khaled Salem’s contract in Bahrain has been voided by his club Al-Hidd and the forward has returned to Markaz Balata. Hilal Al-Quds have lost the services of their striker Reebal Dahamshe (Palestine’s youngest player at the Arab Cup) who elected to return to the Israeli League at the season’s midway point.
