Bayern Munich signed Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Daniel Peretz in one of the most surprising and groundbreaking transfer deals the Middle East has seen in years.
Peretz, 23, has moved for €5.5m (£4.74m) plus add-ons, and has signed with Bayern until 2028.
The young Israeli, who had spent 18 years with Maccabi Tel Aviv, is joining in a tricky moment for the German giants.
Their first-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, is injured, and will be out for a few months, while his stand-in Sven Ulreich isn't providing the fans and the Bayern staff with what they are looking for.
The club have monitored Peretz closely in recent months, after his impressive display against Germany in the U21 Euros, where he managed to stop two penalties and earn Israel a rare point in what has become a historic tournament for Israeli football.
Peretz is part of a special generation of Israeli talents, along with Manor Solomon at Tottenham, Oscar Gloukh at Red Bull Salzburg, Liel Abada at Celtic and Stav Lemkin at Shakhtar Donetsk.
This is arguably the most significant Israeli transfer since 1979, when the late Avi Cohen moved from Maccabi to Liverpool.
Since then, no player has moved directly from the Israeli league to a club at the top of European football.
"I am here to compete," he said in a press conference, "Neuer is my role model, I want to learn from him and the experience".
Peretz is extraordinarily talented, and is already counted among the leading goalkeeping prospects in European football, alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia and Porto's Diogo Costa.
He is a penalty-saving expert, and stopped a few impressive ones in that historic Euros.
But aspects of his game still need to be improved, such as his reactions to threats in open play.
Undoubtedly, Bayern's goalkeeper crew has a gem to work with for the club's future.
Peretz's deal, which comes after the Red Bull Salzburg deal for Oscar Gloukh, is changing the way Israeli football is viewed in the worldwide football industry.
Clubs will now be looking for more hidden gems within the Israeli League, instead of buying their players once they’ve already made the move to Europe.
🚨OFFICIAL!
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 25, 2023
🇮🇱🧤Daniel Peretz signed with 🇩🇪FC Bayern Munich
💰€5m fee plus add-ons to 🇮🇱Maccabi Tel-Aviv
✍️Signed for 5⃣ years
Good luck! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/SfdnTApexG
Mohamed Salah saga reaches critical stage
From those moving to Europe, to those eyeing a lucrative escape to the Middle East.
In the past few days, reports of the huge offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad Jeddah for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah started circulating.
While all Middle Eastern and Saudi sources claim Salah has already agreed to a €250m (£215.25m) contract at Al Amid, Western sources claim there is no chance the Egyptian king is leaving during the 2023/24 season.
Despite that, Al Ittihad seem to be insisting on signing Salah ahead of their 2023 Club World Cup campaign, and have reportedly offered Liverpool €150m (£129.05m) for the player.
Is now the right time for Salah to leave Liverpool?
Many things can happen until the end of the Saudi transfer window on 20 September, but it now seems unlikely that the player will go in this window - in the winter, or next season, makes more sense.
Mohammed Salah to Al Ittihad Jeddah? Yes, but no. At least not now. Until September 20 a lot of things can change, but the logic behind this deal is still in the making.
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) August 28, 2023
My take on the 🇪🇬 Egyptian king’s transfer rumors @i24NEWS_EN pic.twitter.com/ZbBvForvQ9
Derby weekends across the region
The weekend saw a few exciting derbies taking place across the Middle East.
In Jordan, the eternal Amman derby between Al Wehdat and Al Faisaly ended in a 3-2 victory to the Palestinian club of the city.
In Abu Dhabi, Al Wahda of Pitso Mosimane managed to beat Al Jazira 2-1 on the second matchday of the Emirati Pro League.
The impact of the South African coach on his team is becoming more evident day-by-day.
The coach was sacked by Al Ahli Jeddah without receiving his salary.
After gaining promotion with the Saudi club, he has since focused on the Emirati title.
Watch out for Al Wahda this season, Pitso is coming.
Finally, the East Jerusalem Derby in the West Bank Premier League saw a clash between champions Jabal Mukaber, and the runner-up Hilal Al Quds.
A hammering 4-0 victory for Nusoor Al Jabal has shocked the whole League, as Hilal are considered one of the leading sides in the competition, and the rivalry between the two sides is fierce.
Amer Salman's players must change their mindset if they want to battle for the Palestinian title this season.
Edited by Alex Smith
For the first time since Oct. 7, 2023, Palestinian club football returns this weekend as 226 teams compete across three war-scarred regions.
After nine years at Liverpool, Salah left for Trabzonspor — the money, the family, and the love of being the underdog all played their part.
Maccabi Tel Aviv routed ten-man Hapoel 4-1 at Bloomfield, in a fiery derby marked by red cards and pyro chaos.
For the first time since Oct. 7, 2023, Palestinian club football returns this weekend as 226 teams compete across three war-scarred regions.
After nine years at Liverpool, Salah left for Trabzonspor — the money, the family, and the love of being the underdog all played their part.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Final, ending Lionel Messi's dream World Cup with heartbreak.
Thousands of Argentina fans transformed Times Square before the 2026 World Cup final, all united to thank Lionel Messi.
Spain were ruthless in Dallas as Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo starred, leaving France's Bastille Day to end in deep disappointment for Deschamps.
Norway outplayed England for most of a sweltering Miami classic, but two Bellingham strikes in extra time sent the Three Lions to the semis.
Egypt pushed Argentina to the limit in a 3-2 World Cup thriller, but left the pitch furious at the referee and convinced justice was denied.
Ayoub Bouaddi chose Morocco over France at 18 and lit up a quarter-final about colonial history, dual identity, and what it means to belong.
Merino's late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over Portugal as Ronaldo left the World Cup stage in tears in what many believe was his final match.
Egypt beat Australia on penalties in Dallas to reach the last 16 for the first time, with Salah's Panenka the highlight of a historic night.
Diop headed Morocco level in the 91st minute and Saibari slotted the winner in the shootout as Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi and the Jordanian Messi both scored as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, with records broken and keffiyehs flying in the stands.
France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, but the two-hour lightning delay stole the show, making it officially the longest World Cup game ever.
Saibari scored inside two minutes as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Boston, leaving the Scots on the very brink of 2026 World Cup elimination.
Senegal relived their legendary 2002 magic for an hour, but Kylian Mbappe struck twice to sink them and seal France's 3-1 win in New Jersey.
Qatar stole a last-gasp draw from Switzerland and Morocco held Brazil 1-1 — two results that announced Arab football’s full arrival at 2026.
Azteca stadium hosts its third World Cup as Mexico City buzzes with pride, protest, and the deep belief that football has always lived here.
Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig to win the Conference League in the most romantic underdog final in European football history.
Maccabi Tel Aviv edge Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–1 in a dramatic Israeli Cup Final at Teddy Stadium, denying the champions a historic Double.
With tensions easing, Iran’s 2026 World Cup participation remains uncertain, as FIFA, politics, and regional dynamics collide.
CAF shocks African football by stripping Senegal’s title and awarding Morocco the AFCON crown after a chaotic final decision.
From silent protests to daring escapes, Iran’s women footballers turned a tournament into a global story of courage, politics, and survival.
Iran’s women’s team protested, faced threats, and signaled SOS in Australia—now their fate is uncertain amid calls for asylum.
From geopolitics to spectacle, Trump looms over World Cup 2026—reshaping football, power, and culture in the biggest tournament ever.
FIFA joins Gaza rebuilding plans, restoring stadiums, pitches, and youth programs, supporting football and hope in the Strip.
From Nigeria’s Mavlon academy to Viktoria Plzeň and the Europa League dream: Salim Fago’s journey is just beginning in Europe.
From Benzema’s shock move to Ronaldo’s protest, a chain reaction in Saudi football is shaking the entire project and the global game.
A Hitchcock-style AFCON final in Rabat saw chaos, controversy and brilliance as Senegal stunned Morocco to claim their second African title.
Maccabi Tel Aviv routed ten-man Hapoel 4-1 at Bloomfield, in a fiery derby marked by red cards and pyro chaos.