Hapoel Beer Sheva has no intention of letting Eliel Peretz leave in the middle of its Champions League push, the midfielder's agent has told ONE, cooling any hopes of a quick exit as speculation grows over his contract future.
Gilad Katzav, who represents Peretz, said bluntly that "Hapoel Beer Sheva will not release him currently," according to ONE, tying the club's stance directly to its focus on European qualification rather than any transfer business.
The 29-year-old has become one of the most important players in the Negev club's midfield, and interest from elsewhere is only likely to grow given the uncertainty hanging over his contract beyond this season.
Peretz joined Beer Sheva from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol in the summer of 2024, signing a two-year contract that included a club option for a third season — an option Beer Sheva has since exercised, tying him to the club through the current campaign.
Formal talks over a new deal have not yet begun, according to Katzav, and are expected to pick up only once Beer Sheva's European commitments are settled. The club is currently in a Champions League playoff-round tie with Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK, having already eliminated Vikingur Reykjavik and Crvena Zvezda in earlier qualifying rounds.
The timing matters. If Peretz reaches January without putting pen to paper on an extension, he would be free, under standard football regulations, to open talks with other clubs and sign a pre-contract ahead of next season — a scenario that would put him within reach of any of Israel's leading sides.
Under owner Alona Barkat, Beer Sheva has generally prioritised tying down its most important performers, and Peretz, a key creative presence in central midfield, fits that pattern after two seasons of steady progress since his return from Cyprus.
Since joining, Peretz has been central to a trophy-laden spell in the Negev, helping Beer Sheva win the State Cup in 2024/25 and add the Israeli Super Cup and the Ligat ha'Al championship in 2025/26. He has also become a regular fixture for Ran Ben-Shimon's Israel national team.
For now, though, the message from the player's camp is unambiguous: any negotiation over his long-term future will wait until Beer Sheva's European season has run its course.
