The experienced midfielder heads back to familiar surroundings after his contract at Ironi Tiberias expired, bringing Olympic bronze medal pedigree with him.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Super Eagles midfielder Usman Mohammed has completed a free-transfer return to Maccabi Bnei Reineh, signing a two year deal with Lior Reuven’s Israeli Premier League side after his contract at Ironi Tiberias came to an end.
The move takes the 32-year-old back to a club he already knows well, having represented Maccabi Bnei Reineh between 2023 and 2025. During that first spell, he made 63 league appearances and scored three goals, becoming one of the team’s most reliable midfield presences.
A Well-Travelled Career Since Leaving Nigeria
A former Taraba United player, Mohammed has built a varied career across Europe and Asia since departing Nigerian football. He is known for his composed passing range and consistent work rate in the middle of the park, qualities that should slot straight back into Reuven’s plans as Maccabi Bnei Reineh prepare for the new Israeli Premier League season.
Olympic Bronze And Super Eagles Pedigree
Mohammed’s international résumé adds further weight to the signing. He was part of Nigeria’s U-23 squad that won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and he went on to earn senior caps for the Super Eagles, featuring at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
His return is expected to add stability and experience to Maccabi Bnei Reineh’s midfield as the club looks to build on recent progress in Israeli football.
📌 Did You Know?
- Mohammed’s first spell at Maccabi Bnei Reineh between 2023 and 2025 produced 63 league appearances and three goals.
- Nigeria’s U-23 team won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a squad Mohammed was part of.
- Mohammed represented the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, adding senior international experience to his profile.
- Taraba United, Mohammed’s former Nigerian club, plays in the Nigeria National League system.
- Free transfers allow experienced players like Mohammed to negotiate personal terms directly, often speeding up moves between seasons.
- The Israeli Premier League has increasingly become a destination for experienced Nigerian midfielders in recent years.
