Political Reasons Block Israeli Defender’s Transfer to Serbian Club

The potential transfer of Israeli defender Sagi Lamkin from Shakhtar Donetsk to Partizan Belgrade has reportedly been called off at the last minute due to political reasons. Serbian media reports claim the deal was all but finalized, with Lamkin even agreeing to terms for a one-year loan. However, Ukrainian club Shakhtar abruptly canceled the transfer after discovering that Partizan had participated in a tournament in Russia during the summer. Ukrainian officials have reportedly condemned the decision, stating that it was a clear political move. While the transfer window in Ukraine remains open until September 6th, the political tensions between the two countries make a last-minute resolution seem unlikely. This incident highlights the lingering impact of the ongoing conflict on sporting events and player transfers.