Bakary Konaté has completed a permanent move from Ukrainian side Kryvbas Kryvyi Rig to Maccabi Netanya in Israel’s Ligat ha’Al, signing a contract that runs from 05/02/2026 to 30/06/2030. The Israeli club secured the 22-year-old centre-back for a fee of €500k, with the transfer formalised on 05/02/2026.
The Malian defender arrives in Netanya with a current market value listed at €800k, underlining the scale of the investment Maccabi have made to reinforce the heart of their defence. Konaté switches from the Ukrainian Premier Liga to Israel’s top flight, continuing his career abroad rather than in his home country of Mali, and joins Maccabi Netanya as a right-footed specialist at centre-back.
Konaté’s move to Israel follows a rapid rise in valuation during his time in Europe. His market value climbed from €50k at Vilaverdense FC in late 2023 to €150k by mid-2024, and then doubled again after his transfer to Kryvbas, eventually reaching €800k in December 2025. That trajectory reflects his growing importance at club level and explains why Maccabi Netanya were willing to pay a significant fee to secure his services.
The defender’s career path has taken him through Portugal and Ukraine before this latest switch. After arriving in Portugal via Vilaverdense FC’s youth setup, Konaté stepped up to Vilaverdense’s senior side, including a loan spell at SC Salgueiros. His performances there earned him a move to Kryvbas Kryvyi Rig, giving him experience in the Ukrainian Premier Liga, one of Eastern Europe’s more competitive divisions.
At Kryvbas, Konaté developed into a central defensive presence, operating exclusively as a centre-back and consolidating his reputation as a physically imposing defender, standing 1.87m tall. His role in Ukraine helped drive the steep progression in his market value recorded across 2024 and 2025, culminating in the €500k transfer to Netanya.
For Maccabi Netanya, the signing adds a young but already seasoned international profile to their back line, one who has been tested in different European environments. For Konaté, the move to Ligat ha’Al extends his journey across another foreign league and keeps him on a clear upward trajectory in terms of club status and financial valuation. With his contract locked in from 05/02/2026 to 30/06/2030, both player and club are now tied to a long-term project that could significantly shape his reputation and future prospects in the global game.
