Tjaronn Chery will not return to Maccabi Haifa, the 35-year-old Hagenees and the Israeli top club jointly announced on Tuesday via social media. The attacking midfielder has been on loan for NEC Nijmegen since January, where he shows up every week in the Eredivisie. It is currently unclear where Chery will work after this season.

Chery is still with Maccabi Haifa until mid-2025, but will not return to Israel in any case. It is not yet known whether his beloved employer will release him because of his services. According to Transfer market Chery is only worth €400,000, making him an interesting target for many Eredivisie clubs.

“Leaving this great club after five incredible years is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made,” Chery wrote on Tuesday. “As captain, I poured my heart and soul into every match and cherished every moment with this incredible club.”

After winning three league titles and two national cups, Chery's era in Haifa comes to an end. “Although I may move on, a piece of my heart will always remain here. The love for this club will never fade. I am forever grateful to the club.”

Maccabi Haifa took over Chery on a free transfer from the Chinese Guizhou FC in 2019. Since then, the left foot has played no fewer than 208 official matches for the Israeli top club, in which he scored 56 goals and 45 assists. Chery leaves as a club icon from Maccabi Haifa.

During his temporary return to the Netherlands, Chery left an excellent impression in recent months. The veteran plays an important role in coach Rogier Meijer's team, which still hopes to qualify for European football. In the cup final, NEC narrowly lost to Feyenoord (1-0).

Chery thought he could open the score in De Kuip when he worked the ball behind Timon Wellenreuther via the inside of the post. However, NEC's trendsetter was in an offside position at that moment. In his first fifteen games for NEC, Chery scored five goals and two assists.

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