JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UEFA Conference League side Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday signed Israeli international forward Yonas Malede from Belgian Juplier Pro League club KV Mechelen.
The 24-year-old player joined Belgian football in 2021 when he signed with KAA Gent and secured the Belgian Cup with the team after a penalty shootout win over Anderlecht in April 2022.
In the summer of 2022, he signed with Mechelen, and again reached the Belgian Cup final, where his team lost to Royal Antwerp in April last year.
The Israeli club said in a statement that Malede signed a three-and-a half-year deal with the team.
According to Israeli media, Maccabi paid Mechelen 325,000 euros for the player.
"If it wouldn't have been for Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club everyone wants to play for, I don't think I would have returned to Israel," Malede said. "Now that I am back, I would like to work hard and win titles," he added.
The forward, who moved to Belgium from the Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Netanya, also has a total of 10 appearances for the Israeli national teams, at the senior, U21, and U19 levels.
Coached by Irish legend Robbie Keane, Maccabi Tel Aviv currently leads the Israeli league and has reached the Conference League's round of 16. ■
