Hanukkah Soccer Legends: Night 5 – Oscar Gloukh | OneFootball

This article’s all about celebrating the gelt, baby. The shekels. The Benjamins (of the Franklin variety, not Netanyahu edition). Particularly in how that relates to one Oscar Gloukh, a 21 year-old midfielder/winger from Rehovot, Israel.

In August 2025, he set a record for the highest transfer fee paid for an Israeli player: $17M. Gloukh moved from Red Bull Salzburg to Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam. The technical director of Ajax, Alex Kroes, had this to say: “Oscar is an attacking midfielder who is both creative and talented, contributing goals and assists. He’s also an intelligent player with excellent vision, and he is exceptionally eager to learn and ambitious. In our talks, he made it clear that Ajax was the ideal club for his development.”

Though he’s only been a professional since 2022, Gloukh already has two other records under his belt. In September 2023, his goal against Benfica in the Champions League made him the youngest Israeli to score in that competition. In June 2025, he opened the scoring for Salzburg against Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup, and he became the first Israel to score in that tournament.

Gloukh is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to young Israeli talent. Players like Manor Soloman (signed with Spurs, but on loan at Villarreal) or Leil Abeda (currently at Charlotte FC) are showing that Israeli talent can command top dollar transfer fees and produce the goods on the pitch.

About This Article Series

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is celebrated over eight days and nights by followers of Judaism across the world. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the success of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

The holiday’s close proximity to Christmas has made it a mainstay within the United States and other western regions, even though its religious importance is somewhat minor. In observance of Hanukkah, Hooligan Soccer will present eight shining soccer players associated with the Jewish faith.

Night 1: Benny FeilhaberNight 2: Eran ZahaviNight 3: David “Dudu” AouateNight 4: Tai Baribo