01In brief
Ben Sahar is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a striker and represented Israel at senior and youth levels. He attracted international attention as a teenager and made his senior national-team debut at 17 years and 181 days, placing him among the youngest players to represent Israel. His career included clubs in England, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Israel, as well as league titles and cup victories, before he retired in 2026.
02Early Life
Sahar began playing in Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth academy at age nine. After two months of trials in London, Chelsea signed him at 16 years and nine months; the transfer was reported as worth £320,000.[3]
Sahar made his Chelsea first-team debut as a substitute against Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup third round on January 6, 2007. He entered in the 76th minute of a 6–1 victory and later recalled the special experience of hearing the Stamford Bridge crowd sing his name.[4]
03Career
Sahar made his senior Israel debut against Ukraine on February 7, 2007, aged 17 years and 181 days. He was the first minor to play for the senior national team since Oded Machnes in 1974. Before his call-up, he had scored a decisive goal against France’s under-21 side during Israel’s qualification campaign for the European Under-21 Championship.[1] In 2008, his stoppage-time equalizer against Switzerland in Ramat Gan made the score 2–2 and kept Israel’s World Cup hopes alive for several more months.[1]
Chelsea loaned Sahar to Queens Park Rangers in 2007. He made his QPR debut in a preseason friendly against Wycombe Wanderers, playing 34 minutes of the second half in a 1–0 win.[5][6] Further loan spells took him to Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Dutch club De Graafschap.[6]
In 2009, Sahar moved to Espanyol, where he scored once during his first season, before being loaned to Hapoel Tel Aviv. He scored 16 goals for Hapoel and won the State Cup, while the club also competed in the Champions League group stage.[2]
After his season with Hapoel, Sahar joined French club AJ Auxerre. His other European clubs included Hertha Berlin, Arminia Bielefeld and Willem II. He joined Hertha in 2012, spent two seasons in Germany and later returned to the Netherlands before signing for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2015.[6][2]
Sahar scored as Be’er Sheva defeated Bnei Sakhnin on the final day of the 2015/16 season and secured its first Israeli Premier League championship in 40 years.[7] Be’er Sheva became the club where he spent the most time: six seasons, including one on loan at APOEL Nicosia. He won three consecutive league titles from 2016 to 2018, the State Cup in 2020, the Toto Cup in 2017 and the Super Cup twice. He scored 61 league goals in 151 appearances for the club.[2]
Sahar was the Israeli Premier League’s leading scorer in 2018/19, with 15 goals.[2] In 2021, he signed for Maccabi Haifa, winning two league titles, the Toto Cup and the Super Cup. He later joined Maccabi Petah Tikva, with whom he won the State Cup.[2]
At the start of the 2023/24 season, Sahar moved from Maccabi Haifa to Maccabi Petah Tikva.[8] In February 2024, he scored twice in a 3–0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv, finding the net in first-half injury time and again in the 65th minute.[9]
Sahar returned to Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2024/25 season. The club won promotion back to the Premier League, and he scored four goals in 22 second-division appearances.[2] His honors included the FA Cup and League Cup with Chelsea, the German second-division championship with Hertha Berlin, five Israeli league titles, three State Cups, two Toto Cups and two Super Cups.[10]
Sahar retired from playing in 2026 after failing to find a club for the season following his return to Hapoel Tel Aviv. He finished his senior international career with 44 appearances and eight goals for Israel.[2] At his retirement event, he said he had made the decision several months earlier and was proud above all that he had not given up. He added that although he was leaving the field as a player, he did not intend to leave football soon.[2]
Sahar also thanked his father for driving him from Modi’in to Tel Aviv almost every day, sometimes leaving at 6:30 in the morning, and recalled his father preparing chicken breast for him while they were abroad.[2]
04Legacy
Sahar’s career was marked by an unusually early entry into senior football and extensive experience abroad. He debuted for Israel at 17 years and 181 days and went on to make 44 senior appearances, scoring eight goals.[1][2] His club career encompassed England, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Cyprus, alongside a long return to Israeli football.
His six seasons associated with Hapoel Be’er Sheva formed the longest chapter of his club career. His 61 league goals in 151 appearances helped the club win three consecutive championships and several domestic cups, while his 15 goals in 2018/19 made him the Israeli Premier League’s leading scorer that season.[2]
05Controversies
Sahar’s name became associated with a public debate over military-service arrangements for outstanding athletes. The proposed “Ben Sahar Law,” introduced by Knesset member Haim Katz, would have allowed qualifying athletes to perform national service abroad instead of regular military service.[11]
After discussions involving Katz, the sports ministry and the IDF, the bill was not advanced to its second and third readings. The guidelines adopted instead permitted individual arrangements, including deferments for overseas study or training of up to one year at a time and four years in total, or a reduction of compulsory service by up to one year.[11]
Sources
- 1Maariv, A blessing for the firstborn: The youngest players in the history of the Israel national team, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 2Ynet, Ben Sahar retired after an 18-year career: “I’m not leaving so soon”, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 3Sport5, On the launch track: Ben Sahar found a warm home in Be’er Sheva, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 4Ynet, Ben Sahar made his Chelsea debut: “It was an incredible experience; 50,000 sang my name”, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 5The Jerusalem Post, Ben Sahar makes debut for QPR, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 6Ynet, Joining the newly promoted side: Ben Sahar signed for one season with Maccabi Petah Tikva, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 7The Jerusalem Post, Beersheba wins first title in 40 years, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 8The Jerusalem Post, Taking stock of each team as season starts, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 9The Jerusalem Post, Pierrot nets 4 as Maccabi Haifa retains lead, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 10Maariv, One of the outstanding strikers of the last generation: Ben Sahar announced his retirement from football at age 36, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 11Ynet, Final: the ‘Sahar Law’ was canceled and will be replaced by ‘Par procedures’, accessed on October 28, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who was Ben Sahar?
Ben Sahar is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a striker and represented Israel at senior and youth levels. He drew international attention as a teenager and made his senior national-team debut at 17 years and 181 days. His career included clubs in several European countries, Cyprus and Israel, and he retired in 2026.
Which clubs did Ben Sahar play for in England?
Ben Sahar played for Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth in England. Chelsea signed him at 16 years and nine months after two months of trials in London. He made his Chelsea first-team debut as a substitute against Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup third round on January 6, 2007.
What were Ben Sahar’s main achievements with Hapoel Be’er Sheva?
Ben Sahar scored 61 league goals in 151 appearances for Hapoel Be’er Sheva, where he spent six seasons, including one on loan at APOEL Nicosia. He won three consecutive Israeli league titles from 2016 to 2018, the State Cup in 2020, the Toto Cup in 2017 and the Super Cup twice. His goal on the final day of the 2015/16 season helped secure the club’s first Israeli Premier League championship in 40 years.
How many goals did Ben Sahar score for Israel?
Ben Sahar scored eight goals in 44 senior appearances for Israel. He made his senior debut against Ukraine on February 7, 2007, aged 17 years and 181 days. In 2008, his stoppage-time equalizer against Switzerland made the score 2–2 and kept Israel’s World Cup hopes alive for several more months.
What was the “Ben Sahar Law” about?
The proposed “Ben Sahar Law” would have allowed qualifying athletes to perform national service abroad instead of regular military service. The bill, introduced by Knesset member Haim Katz, was not advanced to its second and third readings after discussions involving Katz, the sports ministry and the IDF. Guidelines adopted instead allowed individual arrangements, including limited deferments for overseas study or training or a reduction in compulsory service.
Why did Ben Sahar retire from football?
Ben Sahar retired in 2026 after failing to find a club for the season following his return to Hapoel Tel Aviv. At his retirement event, he said he had made the decision several months earlier and was proud above all that he had not given up. He added that he did not intend to leave football soon.