Celtic And Charlotte FC Have Reached An Agreement On The £10 Million Sale Of Israeli Winger Liel Abada

Celtic And Charlotte FC Have Reached An Agreement On The £10 Million Sale Of Israeli Winger Liel Abada

Celtic have reportedly finalized an agreement with MLS team Charlotte FC for the transfer of winger Liel Abada, in a deal valued at £10 million. Manager Brendan Rodgers had acknowledged last month the likelihood of the 22-year-old departing the Hoops, citing that he “does not feel quite right or ready” to continue with the club.

Israeli national Abada is currently grappling with personal challenges related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving his homeland and Palestine. Throughout this season, a significant portion of Celtic supporters have consistently expressed solidarity with Palestine, either by displaying the country’s flag or collectively singing songs during matches at Parkhead.

Amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, Abada has been absent from Celtic’s lineup since the 2-1 victory against Hibernian on February 7, consequently missing the team’s last five matches across all competitions.

Abada had signed a new four-year contract with Celtic last summer, following a remarkable 2022-23 season where he garnered attention from various clubs after scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists in 47 appearances.

However, a combination of off-field challenges and a severe thigh injury, sidelining him for three months, has resulted in the winger playing a limited role in Rodgers’s first-team squad this season.

Abada now seems poised to depart Celtic, as per Sky Sports News, which reports that Charlotte FC has agreed to acquire the Israeli player for a club-record £10 million. According to the report, Abada is expected to journey to America this week to undergo a medical examination and finalize his transfer to the North Carolina-based team.

Celtic is anticipated to earn a substantial profit from Abada, whom they signed four years ago for a reported fee of £3.5 million from Israeli club Maccabi Petah Tikva.

Under the guidance of former Aston Villa, Norwich City, and Leicester City manager Dean Smith, Charlotte is poised to be Abada’s new team. Smith assumed the role of Charlotte boss during the MLS off-season in mid-December.

Presently, Charlotte occupies the seventh position in the Eastern Conference standings, having amassed four points from their first two games of the 2024 season, including a 1-0 victory over New York City FC at home, followed by a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps.