The experienced full-back, who boasts an impressive background in French football, is set to join Hapoel Tel Aviv subject to passing medical examinations
Full-back Marcus Coco has agreed terms with the club and is expected to arrive in Israel in the next 24 hours. He will officially sign a one-and-a-half-year contract, subject to the successful completion of medical tests.
The 29-year-old defender joins Hapoel Tel Aviv from Romanian side CFR Cluj, where he made nine league appearances during the first half of the current season. Prior to that, Coco spent five seasons with French club FC Nantes, making 131 appearances in all competitions.
Before joining Nantes in 2019 in a transfer worth €3 million, Coco played for En Avant Guingamp. Over the course of his career, he has made a total of 260 appearances in France’s top division, including 20 league appearances during the 2024/25 season.
At international level, Coco also represented France’s Under-21 national team, earning 17 caps in his youth career.
The midfielder will remain in red at least until the end of the 2028/29 season: “I promise I will do everything to give back to the club and provide moments of happiness on the pitch”
Ari Cohen will wear the red kit until the end of the 2028/29 season, after extending his contract with the club.
Cohen, 22, joined our youth department at the age of 15 and played for the U17, U19, and youth teams. He made his senior team debut at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, in a Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem. To date, he has worn the red kit for four years, making 66 appearances and scoring seven goals in all competitions. In the second half of the 2023/24 season, he was loaned to Hapoel Kfar Saba from the National League, where he scored eight league goals.
Cohen said after signing: “For me, extending my contract at Hapoel Tel Aviv is the most natural thing there is. Knowing that the club stands behind me and that I have a future at a place that is home to me is a great privilege. I promise our fans that I will do everything to give back to the club and provide moments of happiness on the pitch – and to always represent the red shirt with honor. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Ari!
Today, we bid farewell to midfielder Ran Binyamin following an agreement for his transfer to FC Dallas (MLS).
The 22-year-old joined our Youth Academy at the U17 level and progressed to the U19 team, where he played for two seasons.
He made his senior debut in the summer of 2022 during a Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem. In the very next match against SC Ashdod, he scored his first goal.
Ran made 110 appearances in Red across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists.
Ran always gave his all on the pitch, and we are proud of his development within the club. Good luck on your new journey! We believe in you and are confident you will go far.
Ran Binyamin, Ole, Ole, Ole!
The defender will continue in red at least until the end of the 2028/29 season: “Grateful for the trust - I’ll keep giving everything for the club and our incredible fans”
Tal Archel will wear the red shirt until the end of the 2028/29 season, after extending his contract with the club.
Archel, 22, began his journey with the club at the age of 8, progressing through every youth team in our academy. He made his senior debut at the start of the 22/23 season in the Toto Cup match against Ashdod. In the second half of the 24/25 season he was loaned to Hapoel Kfar Saba, where he made 16 league appearances. In total, Archel has made 39 appearances in red, scoring one goal.
Following the signing, Archel said: “I’m happy to tie my future to a club that has long since become home for me. I want to thank the management and staff for their trust - I’ll continue giving my all for the club and our amazing fans every minute on the pitch. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Tal!
Cypriot talent signed from Omonia Nicosia: “From the very first moment I felt this was the right place for me”
Loizos Loizou, 22, has signed a three-year contract with the club after being acquired from Omonia Nicosia. The Cypriot winger landed in Israel yesterday (Saturday), completed his medical tests, and officially signed his deal. Loizou will wear the number 75 shirt.
He made his senior debut at just 15 years old for Omonia Nicosia, where he went on to record 199 official appearances across all competitions, scoring 31 goals and providing 23 assists – in the Cypriot League, Cypriot Cup, Europa League, and Conference League. With Omonia, he won one league title (2020/21), two cups (2021/22, 2022/23), and the Super Cup (2021/22).
Loizou has also earned 42 caps with the Cyprus national team – his most recent appearances coming two weeks ago against Austria and Romania in World Cup qualifiers.
Upon signing, Loizou said: “When I first heard about Hapoel Tel Aviv, from the very first moment I felt this was the right place for me. I was impressed by the staff who really wanted me here, and by the amazing fans who kept showing me love. I’m very happy to be here and can’t wait to start playing for them. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Loizos!
Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club and Hapoel Ramat Gan Football Club have reached an agreement on the transfer of midfielder Mor Buskila
We would like to thank the Mayor of Giv’atayim, Mr. Ran Kunik, for his assistance in helping the two clubs reach an understanding and resolve the differences.
Buskila will return to training with his teammates tomorrow (Sunday), will be available to coach Eliniv Barda starting from the upcoming match, and will wear the number 27 jersey in the team’s games.
Good luck, Mor!
Portuguese forward Xande Silva has joined Hapoel Tel Aviv from MLS side St. Louis City: “Visiting Bloomfield was an emotional moment for me – it’s a great honor to represent this club״
Silva, 28, arrived in Israel last night, successfully completed his medicals, and signed his contract. He will wear the number 10 shirt.
A versatile attacker who plays on both wings and as a second striker, Silva came through the youth academies of Sporting Lisbon and Vitória Guimarães, where he also made his senior debut. He has 50 appearances for Portugal’s youth national teams, scoring 15 goals.
In the summer of 2018/19, Silva was signed by West Ham United, featuring mainly for the club’s reserves. He later moved to Aris Thessaloniki, making 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Afterward, he joined French side Dijon, where he recorded six goals and three assists in 33 matches.
In 2023, Atlanta United purchased Silva from Dijon for €3.5 million. During his time in MLS, he played 47 matches, netting seven goals and adding four assists.
Following his signing, Silva said: “I’m very happy and excited to be here. Visiting Bloomfield today was a very emotional experience, and it’s a huge honor for me to represent this club. I hope we can start the season in the best possible way on Saturday. Yalla Hapoel!”
Welcome, Xande!
The Brazilian center-back has joined on loan from Recife, with an option to purchase at the end of the season: “The club’s history and its wonderful fans make joining Hapoel a great honor for״
Chico Alves has signed with the club for one season on loan from Brazilian side Recife, with an option to buy at the end of the term. The defender landed in Israel early this morning, completed his medical examinations, and took part in his first training session in red. Chico will wear shirt number 4.
The 26-year-old, standing 1.88 meters tall, has spent most of his career at Sport Recife in his native Brazil, apart from a loan spell at Grêmio Novorizontino.
Last season, he made 28 appearances in all competitions for Recife, who play in Brazil’s top division, 24 of them as a starter.
After signing, Chico said: “I’m excited to join Hapoel and grateful for the warm welcome. The club’s history, combined with its wonderful fans, makes this a true honor for me. With hard work and commitment, I believe we can achieve great things together. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Chico!
The young striker joins from Maccabi Netanya: “I’m very excited to join a massive club like Hapoel Tel Aviv״
Idan Barnes has signed a three-year contract with the club after completing a transfer from Maccabi Netanya.
Barnes (21) came through the youth systems of Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Tubruk. At the start of the 2022/23 season, he joined Maccabi Netanya’s youth team, where over two seasons he scored 26 goals in all competitions.
At the beginning of last season, he was promoted to Netanya’s senior squad, making 14 appearances and scoring three goals in the first half of the campaign. In the second half, he was loaned to Hapoel Acre in the National League, where he made 18 league appearances and netted eight goals.
Following the signing, Barnes said: “I’m thrilled to join such a massive club like Hapoel Tel Aviv. I expect to develop alongside the team, achieve great things, and bring joy to our amazing fans. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Idan!
The young goalkeeper secures his future at Hapoel: “A significant and exciting step for me, but for me this is just the beginning”
Dor Binyamini has signed a new four-year contract with the club and will wear the goalkeeper’s jersey at least until the end of the 2028/29 season.
Binyamini (20) joined the club ahead of the 2023/24 season after three years in Maccabi Petah Tikva’s youth academy, and in that same season led our youth team.
This past season, he was part of the senior squad and made his first-team debut on the final matchday of the season, keeping a clean sheet in a win over Hapoel Kfar Saba.
Dor is a member of Israel’s Olympic national team and made his debut in a friendly against Bulgaria this past June. He has also made appearances for the U18 and U19 national teams.
After signing, Binyamini said: “I’m the happiest person in the world to sign a long-term deal with this great club, which is also my home. It’s a significant step for me, and I’m sure this is just the beginning. I’m grateful to the club for the trust — now it’s my time to repay it on the pitch, keep working hard, improve every day, and give everything for the badge. Yalla Hapoel!”
Good luck, Dor!
