David Dego has completed a permanent move from Hapoel Hadera to Ironi Modiin, joining the Liga Leumit club on a deal running from 2026-02-03 to 2027-06-30. The attacking midfielder switches second-tier rivals within Israel, with the transfer involving an undisclosed fee and arriving with a current market valuation of €125k.
The 24-year-old, who holds both Israeli and Ethiopian nationality, leaves Hapoel Hadera after a brief spell and immediately becomes one of Ironi Modiin’s more high-profile acquisitions, at least in market value terms. Both clubs compete in Liga Leumit, ensuring Dego remains in the same division while changing environments, tactical setups, and expectations.
Dego’s move continues a career spent entirely in Israeli football structures, progressing from Beitar Jerusalem’s U19 side into the senior professional game. He first stepped up to Beitar Jerusalem’s first team in the 2021–22 season, before a sequence of permanent and loan transfers saw him gather experience across several clubs in the country’s system. That pathway has taken him through Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Ramat haSharon, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Hadera and now Ironi Modiin.
The midfielder’s market value has fluctuated as his career has evolved. From a €75k valuation at Beitar Jerusalem, it rose steadily during his time at Hapoel Ramat haSharon, peaking at €175k with Ironi Kiryat Shmona. More recent assessments have placed him back at €125k, a figure that accompanies him into his latest chapter at Ironi Modiin. While the exact transfer fee remains undisclosed, the move aligns with the valuation level recorded in late 2025.
Operating primarily as an attacking midfielder and preferring his left foot, Dego offers Ironi Modiin an option between the lines rather than a wide or deep playmaker profile. Standing at 1.71m, he is not physically imposing but has been trusted repeatedly by clubs in Liga Leumit and the Israeli system, suggesting a skill set based more on technique and mobility. His experience spans both the top development pathways and competitive professional tiers inside the country, notably remaining within the Liga Leumit framework in his most recent moves.
The transfer also follows a period of frequent club changes. After returning from a loan at Hapoel Ramat haSharon to Beitar Jerusalem in 2023, he moved on to Ironi Kiryat Shmona that summer, then to Hapoel Petah Tikva in early 2025, and on again to Hapoel Hadera later that year. This latest switch to Ironi Modiin maintains the pattern of short stints and constant adaptation, though the new contract through to 2027-06-30 offers the possibility of greater stability if both club and player choose to extend the relationship.
Dego’s dual nationality makes him a figure of interest to both Israeli and Ethiopian football followers, and Ironi Modiin now becomes the latest stage on which he can develop his profile. With his contract now officially running, his immediate task is to convert that €125k valuation and varied Liga Leumit experience into consistent performances that justify Ironi Modiin’s decision to bring him in from a direct league rival.
