3.5 million euros for Maccabi Haifa goalkeeper Georgiy Ermakov — Ukrainian Metalist 1925 is preparing a major offer

The Ukrainian football market is once again turning towards Israel. “Metalist 1925” from Kharkiv wants to sign “Maccabi Haifa” goalkeeper Georgiy Ermakov and, according to Israeli sports media on May 17, 2026, is preparing an offer of 3.5 million euros.

For “Maccabi Haifa,” this is no longer just interest from a foreign club. Previously, the Ukrainians offered 2.7 million euros for the goalkeeper, but this amount was rejected in Haifa. Now it’s about a significantly more serious bid, which could become one of the main transfer intrigues of the summer for Israeli football.

Ermakov is 23 years old, and he still has two years left on his contract at Carmel. But the situation around the player is already developing in such a way that the question is not “will there be a sale,” but rather “when exactly will it happen” — this summer or in a year.

Why Kharkiv is ready to pay more

“Metalist 1925” is now trying to build a new ambitious project in Ukrainian football. The club is managed by Ukrainian billionaire Vladimir Nosov, who, according to the Israeli press, wants to turn the Kharkiv team into one of the most successful clubs in Ukraine.

For Kharkiv, this is not just about football.

The city has become one of the symbols of resistance to Russian aggression and one of the Ukrainian metropolises most affected by the war. Therefore, investments in the Kharkiv club look not just like a sports project, but as an attempt to return the city to great football ambition, status, and a sense of future.

It is against this backdrop that interest in Ermakov becomes clearer. The young “Maccabi Haifa” goalkeeper has already played for the Ukrainian youth team and is considered a player who could potentially claim a spot on the national team.

For “Metalist 1925,” such a transfer would not only strengthen the goalkeeping position but also be a symbolic move: a Ukrainian club from a city living under the threat of Russian attacks brings back to Ukraine a promising Ukrainian goalkeeper from one of Israel’s most notable clubs.

Why “Maccabi Haifa” is not in a hurry to sell

In Haifa, they do not want to part with Ermakov easily. According to information from Israel, the goalkeeper has become one of the few bright spots for the team this season.

For the club, this is an important argument.

When the season is difficult, a strong goalkeeper often becomes not just a squad player but the insurance for the entire team. He influences the result, the psychology of the defense, and the confidence of the fans. Therefore, the sale of such a player is possible only with a truly convincing offer.

3.5 million euros is already a sum that is hard to ignore. But “Maccabi Haifa” will look not only at the money but also at the sporting consequences: who will replace Ermakov, how quickly can a new goalkeeper be found, how will the sale affect the start of the next season, and how will the fans perceive it.

Dynamo Kyiv is also watching the situation

The Kharkiv club is not the only Ukrainian contender for Ermakov. Dynamo Kyiv is also in the race for the goalkeeper.

However, according to an Israeli source, the Kyiv team has not yet formed a new offer that goes beyond what was discussed back in January. This gives “Metalist 1925” room for more active play in the transfer market.

But the name “Dynamo Kyiv” is still important in this story.

For any Ukrainian footballer, a move to the Kyiv club remains a special option. It is a brand, history, European ambitions, and constant pressure for results. Even if Kharkiv is now preparing a larger financial bid, the sporting weight of “Dynamo” cannot be discounted.

Ultimately, the decision may depend not only on the amount “Maccabi Haifa” receives but also on the path Ermakov himself chooses.

What the goalkeeper wants

Ermakov is not rushing to make a decision and is waiting for the summer to evaluate all options.

According to the Israeli press, his priority is a move to a strong European league. And only if an offer from one of the top five European leagues does not appear, will the financial conditions between “Maccabi Haifa” and Ukrainian clubs become a more significant factor for him.

This is a logical position for a 23-year-old goalkeeper.

On one hand, the Ukrainian option could give him playing practice, attention from the national team, and a familiar football environment. On the other hand, a move to a top European championship could sharply raise his career ceiling and open up a different level of competition.

Therefore, it is important for the player not just to choose the club that will pay more. He needs to understand where he will play, grow, gain trust, and move towards the Ukrainian national team.

Israeli-Ukrainian transfer with a big subtext

At first glance, this is an ordinary transfer story: a club wants a player, another club evaluates the offer, the player waits for the summer window.

But in the Ukraine-Israel connection, this plot sounds broader.

“Maccabi Haifa” is one of the most famous clubs in Israel, a team with a strong fan base, European experience, and high expectations. Ukrainian clubs, even in wartime conditions, continue to seek reinforcements, invest, and compete for players.

In the middle of this story, for NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, the human and regional angle is important: Ukrainian football has not disappeared from the map due to the war, and Israel remains one of the markets where footballers play and develop, interesting to Ukrainian clubs.

Ermakov found himself at the intersection of these two realities.

He plays in Israel, is in the sights of Ukrainian teams, could be linked with the future of the Ukrainian national team, and at the same time becomes part of the big question: how ready are Ukrainian clubs to once again pay serious money for promising players.

What will happen next

The main intrigue now is the summer transfer window.

If “Metalist 1925” indeed approaches “Maccabi Haifa” with an offer of 3.5 million euros, the Israeli club will have to make a difficult decision. The amount looks serious, but the sporting cost of losing a main or promising goalkeeper is also high.

“Dynamo Kyiv” may become active later. European clubs from stronger leagues could also intervene if they see potential for growth in Ermakov.

For now, the situation looks like this: “Maccabi Haifa” does not want to sell, Ukraine wants to bring the goalkeeper back to its championship, and the player himself is waiting for an option that will give him not only money but also the right career path.

For Israeli fans, this summer could be a moment of farewell to one of the most notable players of the season.

For Ukrainian football, it’s a chance to take a goalkeeper from Haifa who could become part of a new sports story on the other side of the Mediterranean.