Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Lotem Asras joins Hapoel Kfar Shalem on loan

Israel-Ethiopia midfielder Lotem Asras has joined Hapoel Kfar Shalem from Maccabi Tel Aviv on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old central midfielder completed the move on 16 September 2026, switching from Israel’s top flight to Hapoel Kfar Shalem in Liga Leumit. The agreement runs until 30 June 2027, when Asras is scheduled to return to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Asras began the current campaign with Maccabi after moving up from the club’s under-19 team on 1 July 2026. He made one appearance for the senior side before joining Hapoel Kfar Shalem, playing one minute in the Israeli Super Cup.

That brief appearance came in a campaign in which Maccabi Tel Aviv won the Israel Super Cup. Asras was also part of the club’s squad during its Israeli Cup-winning campaign in the 2025-26 season.

Born in Jerusalem on 15 January 2007, Asras stands 1.85m tall and can use either foot. His primary role is in central midfield, while his move to Hapoel Kfar Shalem takes him into a team competing in Israel’s second tier.

He joins Hapoel Kfar Shalem after registering no league appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv during the opening matches of the 2026-27 season. He also did not feature in the club’s qualifying matches in either the UEFA Conference League or Europa League.

The move gives Asras a change of club after his progression from Maccabi’s youth set-up to the senior squad earlier in the summer. His short spell with the first team included a Super Cup appearance, but he now continues the 2026-27 campaign with Hapoel Kfar Shalem.

Asras has completed a loan move from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Hapoel Kfar Shalem until 30 June 2027.