Israeli trace in Kryvyi Rih: Ukrainian “Kryvbas” took Roy Navi from “Maccabi” Tel Aviv

The Ukrainian football club “Kryvbas” from Kryvyi Rih on July 8, 2026, officially announced the signing of Israeli midfielder Aaron Roi Navi, who belongs to “Maccabi” Tel Aviv. The player joined the Ukrainian team on a one-year loan, with an option for further purchase included in the agreement. For “Kryvbas,” this is the first summer reinforcement ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Roi Navi received number 17 in his new team. In the official statement of “Kryvbas,” he is presented as a defensive midfielder who can also play in the center of the field and, if necessary, cover the position of central defender. This is an important detail for Patrick van Leeuwen’s team: the Ukrainian championship requires not only technique but also versatility, especially in clubs that build their squad under a limited transfer market.

Who is Aaron Roi Navi

Aaron Roi Navi was born on March 4, 2004, in the Israeli city of Or Yehuda. His height is 181 cm, weight is 70 kg, and his working foot is right. Navi’s football journey began at the “Maccabi” Tel Aviv academy, one of the main clubs of Israeli football.

Before moving to Ukraine, Navi already had experience in adult football in Israel. In the 2023/24 season, he played for “Hapoel” Petah Tikva, where he played 33 matches and scored 1 goal. Then he played for “Hapoel” Haifa. According to “Kryvbas,” he played 31 matches for this club and also scored 1 goal, while Sport.ua separately notes last season’s statistics: 26 matches, 1 goal, and 1 assist.

For an Israeli fan, the surname Navi does not seem random. He went through the youth and junior national teams of Israel – U-18, U-19, U-20, and U-21. The most notable episode was the U-20 World Youth Championship in Argentina in 2023, where the Israeli team reached the semifinals and won bronze medals. Navi played 7 matches in the tournament and scored 1 goal.

Why this transfer is important for “Kryvbas”

For “Kryvbas,” this is not just a loan of a young foreign player. The club takes a player from the “Maccabi” Tel Aviv system, who has already gone through several loans in the Israeli championship and has experience in international tournaments at the youth national team level.

In terms of the squad, Navi can give “Kryvbas” additional density in the central zone.

His main position is a defensive midfielder, a place where in Ukrainian football, work volume, the ability to fight, play without the ball, and quickly transition the ball from defense to attack are especially important. If adaptation goes well, he can become not only a rotation player but also an important part of the team’s structure.

It is also interesting that Israeli media wrote about the negotiations even before the official announcement. Walla reported that Navi flew to the Netherlands, where “Kryvbas” was holding training camps, to undergo medical checks and sign a contract. According to the publication, “Kryvbas” coaches Patrick van Leeuwen and Uri David know the player well from their time working in the “Maccabi” Tel Aviv system.

Israeli line in the Ukrainian club

This transition has another important layer – the connection of “Kryvbas” with the Israeli market. Roi Navi is not the first player from “Maccabi” Tel Aviv to end up in the Kryvyi Rih club. Previously, “Kryvbas” already worked with Israeli midfielder Bar Lin. Israeli Sport5 wrote that the Ukrainian club exercised the option to buy Bar Lin, paying “Maccabi” Tel Aviv 250 thousand euros.

Walla adds that in the case of Navi, the scheme is similar: a one-season loan and the right to purchase at the end of the season. According to the Israeli publication, the potential purchase amount may also be 250 thousand euros. The official release of “Kryvbas” confirms the loan itself and the right to purchase, but does not name the amount.

For NAnovosti — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, this story is interesting not only as a sports news. It shows that even during the war, Ukrainian clubs continue to look for players abroad, and Israeli football remains a clear and working direction for Ukraine. There are personal connections of coaches, trust in the “Maccabi” school, and the willingness of young Israeli players to consider Ukraine as a space for career development.

What “Maccabi” Tel Aviv confirmed

The official website of “Maccabi” Tel Aviv also reported on Navi’s transfer to the Ukrainian club. The Israeli club wrote that an agreement was reached with “Kryvbas” on the player’s loan for the 2026/27 season. “Maccabi” noted that during two loan campaigns at “Hapoel” Haifa, Navi played 38 matches in all tournaments, and in the loan season at “Hapoel” Petah Tikva – 33 matches.

At the same time, there is a slight discrepancy in age data: “Kryvbas” calls Navi 22 years old, and “Maccabi” – 21 years old. Since “Kryvbas” itself indicates the date of birth as March 4, 2004, by the time of the announcement on July 8, 2026, the player was already 22 years old. For the Ukrainian club, this is an age when a footballer is still promising but should already be ready for adult competition.

Navi’s transfer to “Kryvbas” seems logical for the player himself. In “Maccabi” Tel Aviv, it was difficult for him to quickly secure a stable place in the squad, and in Ukraine, he can get more playing time and a chance to establish himself in a team that already knows the Israeli market and is not afraid to work with young foreign players.

More than a football loan

The story of Roi Navi is an example of how sports connections between Israel and Ukraine continue to develop not at the level of loud declarations, but through specific decisions of clubs, coaches, and players. “Kryvbas” gets a young midfielder with an Israeli school, youth national team experience, and a purchase option. “Maccabi” retains control over the player’s career but gives him a chance for international experience.

For Navi himself, the season in Ukraine can become pivotal. If he withstands the pace of the UPL, adapts to more physical football, and gains the trust of the coaching staff, “Kryvbas” can consider him not just as a temporary reinforcement but as a long-term asset.

And for the Israeli-Ukrainian sports agenda, this is another signal: between the countries, there is not only politics, diplomacy, and war news, but also live human routes – players, coaches, clubs, fans, and careers that continue to be built even in difficult times.