Luyzos Luyzo, the 22-year-old Cypriot winger, has finalized a transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv to Red Star Belgrade for a fee reported as high as €3.8 million. The player is scheduled to fly to Serbia this Sunday to undergo medical examinations before signing a four-year contract with the Serbian champions.
The €3.8 Million Agreement and Contract Details
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The transfer of Luyzos Luyzo marks a historic moment for Hapoel Tel Aviv. As ynet reported, the deal is finalized with the Serbian powerhouse, representing the largest sale in the history of the Tel Aviv club and one of the most significant transactions in recent Israeli football. While some reports suggested the player might depart within 24 hours, the most recent details indicate he will fly to Serbia on Sunday to complete his medicals.
The financial structure of the move is substantial for a player of Luyzo’s age. The player is expected to earn approximately €750,000 in his first season with Red Star Belgrade, excluding potential bonuses, with his salary set to increase incrementally throughout the duration of his four-year contract. For Luyzo, the move provides a significant professional leap, placing him in a squad preparing for the upcoming Champions League campaign.
The transfer fee remains a point of varying reports across the media. While ynet cited a figure of €3.8 million, other outlets reported values closer to €3 million or €3.5 million. Regardless of the final exact figure, the deal represents a massive return on investment for Hapoel, who acquired the winger from APOEL Nicosia last summer for approximately €1.1 million.
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Luyzo’s move to Belgrade is the direct result of a stellar breakout campaign in Israel. His performance metrics have seen varying levels of reporting: Sport1 reported that the winger recorded nine goals and nine assists across 40 appearances, while Walla Sport noted a tally of seven goals and six assists. Either way, his ability to influence the attacking third made him a primary target for Red Star Belgrade, who also recently secured the services of Mohamed Abu Fani.
The financial windfall from this sale extends beyond the borders of Israel. Because APOEL Nicosia retained a 15% sell-on clause from his previous transfer, the Cypriot club is set to receive a significant portion of the proceeds from this move to Serbia.
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s European Logistics and Roster Shifts
EGOR PRUTSEV JOINS RED STAR BELGRADE!
With Luyzo’s departure, Hapoel Tel Aviv is pivoting toward its 2026/27 season strategy, which includes a unique logistical setup for European competition. As Israel Hayom detailed, the club has prepared to host its European matches at the DVTK Stadium in Hungary, a move that requires extensive operational and logistical planning.
The club is simultaneously working to stabilize its roster. While the management intends to maintain the core group that led the team to recent successes, they are actively seeking high-profile replacements for Luyzo. In other roster news, negotiations are reportedly in advanced stages regarding the return of defender Doron Leydner from Olympiacos, a deal estimated to cost around €350,000.
Additionally, several players returning from loan spells are expected to rejoin training under coach Eliav Berda. These include Shay Gilis, Ofer Galbard, and Roy Burns, all of whom will attempt to secure spots in the senior squad following their stints at clubs like Ironi Modi’in and Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa.
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The news of the transfer has reverberated within the Cypriot national team camp. During preparations for a friendly against Slovenia, Luyzo’s status became a topic of intense discussion among his peers.
“Some players ‘interrogated’ Luyzo regarding his future and tried to fish for details.” Walla Sport
The social dynamics within the national team also highlighted the player’s impending move. A recent training session photo showed Luyzo alongside Marinos Tsionis, a player with previous experience in the Serbian league.
“A nice click between Luyzos Luyzo and Marinos Tsionis in our national team training! Marinos played in Serbia and even met Red Star Belgrade as an opponent… Luyzo will surely ask his national teammate how things are in Serbia!” Walla Sport
While Red Star Belgrade appears to be the frontrunner to finalize the deal, Luyzo’s rise has not gone unnoticed by other major European clubs. Celtic has been monitoring the winger, though the Serbian side’s aggressive pursuit and the potential to trigger a €3 million release clause have placed them in the strongest position to secure his signature.
