Heri Tavares: Universitatea Craiova Complete €350k Deal for Cape Verde–Portugal Winger from Maccabi Netanya

Universitatea Craiova have completed the signing of left winger Heri Tavares from Israeli side Maccabi Netanya in a deal worth €350,000, with the transfer officially registered on 2026-07-02 and his contract at the Romanian club running until 2026-07-02. The move takes the 29-year-old attacker from Ligat ha’Al to Romania’s SuperLiga, with Craiova securing a player currently valued at €750,000 for under market price.

Tavares, who holds both Cape Verdean and Portuguese nationality, joins Craiova as a confirmed addition rather than a speculative target, leaving Maccabi Netanya for a permanent switch. The deal strengthens the Romanian club’s wide options, with the 1.81m left-footed winger primarily operating on the left of the attack but able to contribute across the forward line.

For the player, the transfer consolidates a firmly international career path. Born in Amadora, Tavares has represented both Cape Verde and Portugal at national level in terms of eligibility, and now moves from Israel’s top flight to Romania’s SuperLiga. Instead of playing in his home countries of Cape Verde or Portugal, he will be plying his trade abroad once again, adapting to a new football culture and competition.

The financial details underline Craiova’s calculated investment. Paying €350k for a player assessed at €750k suggests the Romanian side believe there is both sporting and resale value in the deal. With his contract set from 2026-07-02 to 2026-07-02, the club have locked in his immediate future, while leaving open the long-term possibility that, at the end of this term, Tavares could become a free agent if no extension is agreed.

Tavares arrives in Craiova as a mature, peak-age winger, with experience in a competitive environment like Ligat ha’Al. At Maccabi Netanya he was part of a league known for high-intensity transitions and physically demanding matches, a background that should translate well to the tempo of the Romanian top flight. His left-footed profile and attacking instincts are expected to offer Craiova additional width, dribbling threat and delivery from the flank.

The move also adds another chapter to the increasingly global journey of Cape Verdean and Portuguese dual nationals in European football. For Craiova supporters, the signing of a winger with cross-border experience fits the club’s ambition to compete strongly in the SuperLiga and, potentially, in European qualification races. For followers in Cape Verde and Portugal, Tavares’s switch to Romania provides another overseas reference point in a career that continues to develop outside his homelands.

With the paperwork completed and contract dates set, attention now turns to how quickly Tavares integrates into the Craiova squad and imposes himself on the SuperLiga. If he adapts swiftly to Romanian football, this move could prove pivotal in elevating his profile, shaping the next phase of his career and positioning him for either a renewed deal in Craiova or another significant step when his current contract approaches its end on 2026-07-02.