Yam Madar has officially joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, closing another turbulent chapter in his career – from his controversial Partizan exit and difficult spells with Fenerbahce and Bayern to this summer’s Hapoel Tel Aviv saga.
The 25-year-old Israeli guard arrives after months of transfer speculation and negotiations, but his latest move is only the newest chapter in a career that has already included several dramatic twists both on and off the court.
The controversial transfer saga has finally come to an end! 🔥😬
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 12, 2026
Yam Madar has officially completed one of the most talked-about EuroLeague moves of the offseason, leaving Hapoel Tel Aviv to join city rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv on a three-year deal.
Would you have made the same… pic.twitter.com/BZQfkqkfkL
Partizan exit remains the biggest controversy of Madar’s career
Madar established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young guards during his two seasons with Partizan under Zeljko Obradovic. However, his departure in 2023 quickly became one of the club’s most debated transfer stories.
Former Partizan sporting director Zoran Savic later admitted that losing Madar was one of the hardest moments of his tenure.
“Madar was a player we had followed for a long time. His departure hit me really hard,” Savic said.
According to Savic, Partizan still owed players one salary and bonuses at the time, but the email from Madar’s representatives regarding his contract situation allegedly arrived from an unfamiliar address and ended up in the club’s spam folder.
“The email came from an address that had never been used before. Nobody saw it because it went to spam,” Savic explained.
The former executive also revealed that Partizan wanted to extend Madar’s contract and held several meetings with both the player and his representatives.
“Both Zeljko Obradovic and I spoke with him. We asked what kind of contract would satisfy him, but he asked for almost double the salary and a two-year deal. At that point, it was no longer about money – it became a matter of principle.”
Savic also emphasized how much Partizan had invested in Madar’s development, believing the Israeli guard could become one of the pillars of Obradovic’s project.
“We invested a lot in him and paid a buyout to bring him to Partizan. He was a player we counted on for that season and the future,” Savic said.
Misko Raznatovic offers his perspective
According to Raznatovic, Madar was willing to remain at Partizan after a conversation with Zeljko Obradovic, but the two sides could not reach an agreement over a salary increase of around $75,000 per season. Partizan’s offer was reportedly worth $500,000 annually, while Madar wanted the figure increased to $575,000.
Raznatovic also revealed that Zoran Savic rejected the increase, believing Partizan should not change its initial offer.
“Then Zoran Savic, who always has a rigid, sharp and tough stance, said no. He said: ‘It is $500, not $575.’ He believed what Madar was doing was not right,” Raznatovic said.
He added that Madar accepted the lower salary because of Obradovic, their conversation and his belief in the project, but that the club’s decision not to adjust the offer eventually contributed to the guard’s departure.
Fenerbahce and Bayern spells failed to replicate Partizan success
After leaving Partizan, Madar joined Fenerbahce before later moving to Bayern. The move to Fenerbahce came after Madar’s breakout season with Partizan, where he was named EuroLeague Rising Star in 2022/23.
However, unlike in Belgrade, the Israeli guard never managed to establish himself as a regular rotation player at either EuroLeague club, receiving significantly fewer opportunities and struggling for consistent playing time.
Zoar Madar disputes the reasons behind his son’s struggles
Years after Madar’s departure from Partizan, his father, Zoar Madar, publicly disputed the narrative surrounding the transfer.
“Yam Madar was forced to leave Partizan after almost ten months without receiving his salary. He even offered Obradovic to stay another year, despite the contract already being terminated,” he claimed.
Zoar Madar also argued that his son’s struggles at Fenerbahce were not related to his basketball ability.
“Obradovic told Sarunas Jasikevicius not to give Yam Madar minutes. That’s why he left, not because of talent.”
NCAA rumors, Hapoel exit and Maccabi move
Madar’s future once again became one of the biggest storylines of the Israeli basketball offseason.
At one point, he appeared close to making a surprising move to the NCAA after Louisiana reportedly prepared an offer worth around $6 million per season. However, his age and previous professional experience could have required an NCAA eligibility waiver, and those factors may have contributed to the move never materializing.
Hapoel Tel Aviv then attempted to retain the Israeli international with improved financial terms, but Yam Madar repeatedly indicated that his decision would primarily depend on his role rather than money.
Negotiations eventually shifted toward Maccabi Tel Aviv, prompting Hapoel owner Ofer Yannay to publicly criticize the transfer, claiming that Maccabi’s move was also a personal statement against him.
“They are giving him that money because he is a good player, but also because they want to take a swing at me and humiliate me,” Yannay said.
The saga has now reached its conclusion, with Madar officially signing a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv in one of the notable EuroLeague transactions of the offseason, opening a new chapter in one of the most eventful careers in European basketball over the past several years.
