Beitar Jerusalem's coach Almog Cohen has sent an unmistakable message to Uri Dahan: the centre-back was left out of the squad travelling to Romania for Thursday's Europa Conference League third-round qualifier against Austria Wien, according to Sport5.
The trip, ahead of a tie that will be played in Ploiești because of the ongoing legal uncertainty affecting Beitar's home fixtures, was supposed to be a routine squad selection. Instead it confirmed what Dahan had already sensed over the summer — that he has slipped to fifth choice at centre-back under Cohen and can expect little playing time this season.
Sport5 reports that Ironi Tiberias have now formally approached Beitar over signing the 26-year-old, and the club has given its blessing for talks to take place. Dahan, however, is said to be prioritising a move abroad over staying in Israel's top flight, and is in no rush to commit to Tiberias.
Beitar are believed to be open to letting him leave given his contract runs only until the end of the coming season, meaning the club risks losing him for nothing next summer if a transfer isn't found now.
Dahan has been a fixture in Jerusalem since arriving on loan from Maccabi Haifa two seasons ago, making 57 appearances and winning the State Cup before signing a permanent three-year deal in July 2024. His fall down the pecking order accelerated after Beitar brought in Luka Gdrani this summer, pushing Dahan further back in the queue at the heart of defence.
For Beitar, the priority for now is Thursday's first leg against Austria Wien, a club with 24 Austrian league titles and a history that includes several former Israeli players. The return leg is scheduled for August 13 in Austria, with a place in the Conference League play-off round at stake.
Whether Dahan is part of that picture beyond this transfer window remains to be seen — but his absence from the travelling party to Romania was as clear a signal as any that his time at Teddy Stadium may be drawing to a close.
