01In brief
Idan Nachmias (born March 17, 1997) is an Israeli footballer who plays as a center-back. He captained Ironi Kiryat Shmona before joining Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2021. He signed for Ludogorets in 2025 and moved to Hapoel Be’er Sheva on a three-year contract in August 2026. His career has included senior appearances for Israel and an eight-month recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
02Early Life
Nachmias was born in Ein Zivan in northern Israel. As a child, he played both soccer and basketball, with the sports’ coaches coordinating practice schedules to let him take part in both. At 14 and a little over, he chose to focus on soccer.[1]
After moving to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Nachmias was shifted from defensive midfield to central defense. The positional change proved pivotal to his career, and he went on to establish himself as a center-back.[1]
03Club Career
Nachmias developed at Ironi Kiryat Shmona and became the club’s captain. In 2021, he said he had spent five years with the senior team and had captained it for the previous two seasons. After his contract ended, he declined an offer to remain, explaining that he wanted to advance professionally rather than for financial reasons and that establishing himself in Europe was a major ambition.[2]
His goals included a late-first-half strike that gave Kiryat Shmona a 1–0 lead against Hapoel Ra’anana in October 2019; the team won 2–1. In December 2020, he headed in the 13th-minute winner in a 1–0 victory over Hapoel Kfar Saba.[7][8]
Nachmias joined Maccabi Tel Aviv from Kiryat Shmona in 2021. Soon after arriving, he scored with a header in the 18th minute against Shakhter Karagandy. Maccabi won the match 2–0 and progressed 4–1 on aggregate to the group stages.[3] In January 2024, he headed in the only goal of a league match against Hapoel Haifa, scoring in first-half injury time to secure a 1–0 win for the table-leading side.[9]
He played for Maccabi through 2025, making 104 appearances, scoring eight goals, and recording three assists. In his final season, he was one of the starting center-backs as Maccabi won the league.[4] His four-season spell with the club included two league titles.[5]
After his Maccabi contract ended, Nachmias signed a three-year deal with Bulgarian champion Ludogorets in August 2025. He held a Portuguese passport, and Hungarian clubs Győri and Újpest had also shown interest.[4] He left after one season, with two years remaining on his contract, after Ludogorets and the player agreed to part ways.[5]
In August 2026, Nachmias signed a three-year contract with Hapoel Be’er Sheva. At the time, he had made 18 appearances for Israel’s senior national team. He said he was happy to begin a new chapter with the reigning Israeli champions and looked forward to playing at Turner Stadium for the club.[5]
04International Career
Nachmias has represented Israel at senior level. In June 2024, he came on as a substitute in a friendly against Hungary in Debrecen, entering alongside Ramzi Safouri and Roie Gordana after Israel had conceded three goals in the opening 22 minutes. The changes and tactical adjustments stemmed Hungary’s momentum, but Israel did not score and lost 3–0.[10]
Nachmias played every match in Israel’s preceding Nations League campaign and was the only player on the team not to be substituted.[1] He had made 18 senior international appearances when he joined Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2026.[5]
05Injury and Return
Nachmias tore his cruciate ligament and spent eight months away from the pitch before returning in August 2023 as a substitute for Maccabi Tel Aviv against Bnei Sakhnin. He described the comeback as one of the most moving moments he had experienced. His rehabilitation included two training sessions a day and work in the gym.[1][6]
Maccabi arranged an MRI on the night of the injury, sent a club physiotherapist to his home with a specialized ice machine, and began intensive rehabilitation two days afterward. After Nachmias returned against Bnei Sakhnin, Eran Zahavi removed the captain’s armband and gave it to him.[1]
06Legacy and Career Standing
Nachmias’s standing grew through regular roles for club and country. Before the 2024/25 season, he was expected to be a key part of defending champion Maccabi Tel Aviv’s back line alongside Roy Revivo, Raz Shlomo, and Nir Bitton.[11] By March 2025, he was the only Israel player to have appeared in every match of the preceding Nations League campaign without being substituted.[1]
By June 2026, Nachmias was anchoring Ludogorets’s back line. His familiarity with Israeli soccer was also seen as potentially useful to the Bulgarian club as it prepared for a European match against Hapoel Tel Aviv.[12]
07Controversies and Reporting Differences
Sources
- 1Sport5, Ran Ben Shimon’s banker: Idan Nachmias’s rise, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 2Ynet, Idan Nachmias: “I am one of the best defenders in the country and deserve to be on the national team”, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 3The Jerusalem Post, Multiple upsets to open soccer campaign, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 4Sport5, A new legionnaire: Idan Nachmias signed for Ludogorets, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 5Maariv, Idan Nachmias signed for Hapoel Be’er Sheva: “I’m looking forward to playing at Turner.” This is the salary he will earn, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 6Walla! Sport, Idan Nachmias made a comeback: “This is one of the most moving moments I’ve experienced”, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 7The Jerusalem Post, Maccabi Tel Aviv too strong for Beersheba, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 8The Jerusalem Post, Maccabi dominates Hapoel in Tel Aviv derby, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 9The Jerusalem Post, Maccabi Tel Aviv stays well ahead of pack, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 10The Jerusalem Post, Israel lose to Hungary in friendly match: Coach seeks lesson from defeat, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 11The Jerusalem Post, Israeli soccer stars push Maccabi Tel Aviv to leading position, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 12The Jerusalem Post, Guide: The Israeli clubs playing European soccer next season, accessed on October 28, 2026.
- 13Sport5, What does Idan Nachmias bring to Hapoel Be’er Sheva?, accessed on October 28, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Idan Nachmias?
Idan Nachmias is an Israeli footballer who plays as a center-back. He captained Ironi Kiryat Shmona before joining Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2021, then signed for Ludogorets in 2025 and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in August 2026. He has also made senior appearances for Israel.
How did Idan Nachmias begin his football career?
Idan Nachmias was born in Ein Zivan in northern Israel and played both soccer and basketball as a child. At a little over 14, he chose to focus on soccer. After moving to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, he switched from defensive midfield to central defense and established himself as a center-back.
What did Idan Nachmias achieve at Maccabi Tel Aviv?
Idan Nachmias made 104 appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring eight goals and recording three assists. During his four-season spell, he was part of two league-winning teams and was one of the starting center-backs in the club’s title-winning final season.
How did Idan Nachmias return from his cruciate ligament injury?
Idan Nachmias returned to the pitch in August 2023, eight months after tearing his cruciate ligament, coming on as a substitute for Maccabi Tel Aviv against Bnei Sakhnin. His rehabilitation involved two training sessions a day and gym work. After he returned, Eran Zahavi handed him the captain’s armband.
What was Idan Nachmias’s role with Israel’s national team?
Idan Nachmias has represented Israel at senior level and played every match in the team’s preceding Nations League campaign without being substituted. He came on as a substitute against Hungary in June 2024, in a match Israel lost 3–0. He had made 18 senior international appearances by the time he joined Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2026.
Why did Idan Nachmias leave Ludogorets?
Idan Nachmias left Ludogorets after one season when the club and the player agreed to part ways, despite two years remaining on his contract. He had signed a three-year deal with the Bulgarian champion in August 2025 after his Maccabi Tel Aviv contract ended.