Hapoel Beer Sheva did not let Kings Kangwa go without a fight. According to his agent, Nir Karin, the club put a substantial new contract on the table in an attempt to keep hold of its star midfielder before he completed his move to Panathinaikos this week.

"Many teams wanted him, but the professional challenge mattered most to him," Karin said on ONE's "Sicha Hayom" podcast, describing Beer Sheva's counter-offer as surprisingly generous even by the standards of a player who had just delivered a title-winning season.

Kangwa ultimately chose ambition over comfort, opting to test himself in the Greek Super League rather than remain in Beersheba, where he had already established himself as one of the Israeli league's most influential players.

The move was completed this week, with Beer Sheva confirming the sale of the 27-year-old Zambian to the Athens giants in what ranks among the largest transactions in the club's history. Reports in Israel and Greece put the fee at roughly €3.8m to €4m, with add-ons capable of pushing the package higher, and Beer Sheva also retaining a 25 percent sell-on clause on any future transfer.

Kangwa signed a four-year contract with Panathinaikos running through 2030 and will wear the number 42 shirt, on a salary reported at close to €1m a season before bonuses.

His departure closes a hugely productive two-year spell in Israel. Kangwa was named the Israeli league's Footballer of the Year for the 2025-26 season after a 12-goal campaign, and he collected a full trophy set at the club — the Israeli championship, the State Cup and the Israel Super Cup.

He had arrived at Beer Sheva in July 2024 after a decorated run at Red Star Belgrade, where he won back-to-back Serbian league and cup doubles.

The path to Panathinaikos was not entirely straightforward. Walla Sport reported that Kangwa had been close to a move to AEK Athens before that club stepped back, and Panathinaikos moved quickly to close the deal with both Beer Sheva and the player once the opening emerged.

For Beer Sheva, the sale represents a financial windfall but also the loss of the player who had done more than anyone to define its recent success — a departure the club tried, and ultimately failed, to prevent with money alone.