The London-based club, Tottenham, has officially completed the signing of Manor Solomon, the Israel international, on a five-year contract. This move comes after Solomon's successful loan spell at Fulham, where he impressed with five goals in 24 appearances during the previous season.
Notably, Solomon had been a free agent since his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk was suspended due to FIFA amending Annex 7 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This regulatory change enabled foreign nationals employed in either country to unilaterally suspend their contracts if they desired to leave the region.
FIFA recently confirmed the extension of Annex 7 until the summer of 2024, which provided an opportunity for Solomon to join a new club. The Israeli player still had five months remaining on his Shakhtar contract, and Tottenham seized the chance to secure his services.
Manor Solomon is the latest addition to Tottenham's squad this summer, following the arrivals of Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison. Additionally, the loan deals of Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro have been made permanent.
Before finalizing the deal with Tottenham, Shakhtar's chief executive, Sergei Palkin, had threatened legal action against the London club if they pursued a free transfer for Solomon. Nevertheless, the transfer has now been successfully completed.
Solomon began his professional career at Maccabi Petah Tikva, a local side, making his debut at the age of 17 in November 2016. He showcased his abilities with eight goals in 73 appearances for the Israeli outfit, earning a move to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2019.
Primarily operating as an inverted left-winger, Solomon made 106 appearances for Shakhtar, scoring 22 goals and securing domestic league titles on two occasions. He also contributed to their victories in the Ukrainian Cup and Ukrainian Super Cup. Solomon gained valuable experience in the UEFA Champions League during his time at Shakhtar, becoming the youngest Israeli to score in the competition with a goal against Atalanta in October 2019. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Shakhtar's stunning 3-2 away win against Real Madrid in October 2020, scoring the decisive third goal.
Ahead of the upcoming 2022-23 Premier League season, Solomon joined Fulham on loan as they gained promotion. He made an impact by scoring his first goal for the west London side in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in February.
