Benayoun returns to Maccabi Haifa

Yossi Benayoun has returned to Israeli domestic football after signing a two-year deal with Maccabi Haifa.

The former Israeli captain has spent the past nine years in England, playing for West Ham (over two spells), Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and more latterly QPR.

Benayoun, who also spent three years playing in Spain’s La Liga with Racing Santander, enjoyed four years at Maccabi Haifa between 1998-2002, where he scored 55 goals in 130 appearances.

His second spell at the club seemed to be under threat on Thursday evening when both he and the club announced he wouldn’t be returning to the Greens. Releasing separate statements which said negotiations had broken down, a reported phone conversation between Benayoun and Haifa owner Jacob Shachar and Benayoun resulted in a turnaround, with Shachar saying: “We are happy to welcome Yossi back to the team and to the league.”

Set to earn around £300,000 per season, the midfielder said: “I’m happy to be back wearing the Green shirt.”