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Revolution announce signing of Israeli right back Ilay Feingold
"He is an athletically gifted defender who has shown an ability to defend 1-v-1, while also providing effective buildup play and service in the attacking third."
The Revolution continued an offseason defined by major roster turnover with the Tuesday morning announcement that the club had signed 20-year-old Israeli defender Ilay Feingold from Maccabi Haifa for an undisclosed fee.
Feingold joins New England on a three-year deal as a U22 Initiative signing, with a club option in 2028.
Though a young player, he already has experience playing at high levels. With Maccabi Haifa, for whom Feingold played for two seasons in the first team, he featured in UEFA Europa and Conference League games. He also helped the club to a second-place finish in the Israeli Premier League.
At the international level, Feingold has two caps for Israel (both coming in Oct. in the UEFA Nations League). At a youth level, he represented his country at multiple competitions, including the 2024 Olympics, the 2022 UEFA Under-19 European Championships, and the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup (in which he helped Israel to a third place finish).
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“We are pleased to add another top-quality U22 signing to our roster in Ilay Feingold,” noted New England head coach Caleb Porter, per a team announcement. “Ilay is a true competitor and has proven from a young age he is ripe for success.
“He is an athletically gifted defender who has shown an ability to defend 1-v-1, while also providing effective buildup play and service in the attacking third. These characteristics fit our right back profile and have led to him earning top-flight and senior international experience at just 20 years old,” Porter added. “I am eager to work with Ilay and I am excited to see his continued development here in New England.”
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Exactly what this means for New England veteran right back Brandon Bye is still to be determined. Bye, 29, has been with the Revolution since being drafted by the club eighth overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
But with Feingold arriving, his previously assured status in the starting XI could change. Given that Feingold is a U22 player — generally seen as higher-potential talents — it could provide cover for Porter to eventually make a change.
Feingold also has experience to varying degrees across the back line, featuring for Macabi Haifi as both a center back and left back (though mostly as a right back).
He is the latest in a series of new faces Porter and sporting director Curt Onalfo brought in during the offseason to help shore up what was one of the league’s worst defenses in 2024. The Revolution surrendered an Eastern Conference-leading 74 goals last season.
The first meaningful game New England will play in 2025 comes on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the opening game of the new MLS season. The Revolution will be on the road to play Nashville SC at 8:30 p.m.
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