Former Guangzhou R&F player Saba signs with Maccabi Haifa

　　JERUSALEM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli football international Dia Saba has signed with the country's champions Maccabi Haifa for three and a half years, the club said in a statement on Monday.

　　The 30-year-old attacking midfielder returned to Israel four years after moving from then-Israeli champions Hapoel Beer Sheva to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F, where he joined forces with his compatriot striker Eran Zahavi.

　　Saba scored 18 goals in 36 matches in one and a half seasons for Guangzhou R&F, currently named Guangzhou City.

　　He signed with Al-Nasr SC in September 2020. After scoring 17 goals in 49 matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Pro League, he played in the current season for the Turkish side Sivasspor, where he scored five goals in 13 matches.

　　He also played 11 times for Israel's national team, in which he scored three goals.

　　"It's a crazy feeling to fulfill a childhood dream," Saba said. "I joined the biggest club in Israel and can already feel the fans' power."

　　"Signing Saba is part of our goal to continue to be a leading club and compete for all the titles," said Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia. ■