Israeli national soccer team midfielder Manor Solomon signed for English Premier League side Fulham F.C. on Monday.
The gifted 23-year-old passed a medical at the London club earlier this month and officially signed the contract.
Solomon will become the top-paid Israeli soccer player, earning 1.7 million pounds ($2.05 million) per season before bonuses for performance that could take that sum up to 2.5 million pounds ($3 million).
“I'm really happy and delighted to be here at Fulham and I can't wait to feel the special atmosphere at Craven Cottage [Stadium],” Solomon told Fulham F.C's official website.
“There are some great players here and I am determined to help Fulham achieve its goals for the year. I also want to send a big hug to my friends and supporters in Ukraine. You are in my thoughts.”
The former Maccabi Petah Tikva player signed on loan from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for which he played since early 2019 until Russia's invasion of the Eastern European country brought the club's operations to a grinding halt. Negotiations for the player's signature lasted for weeks.
Fulham agreed to a one-year contract after Solomon suspended his contract with Shakhtar due to the war.
Soccer's world governing body FIFA had moved to help protect foreign players affected by the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia calls a "special military operation", by allowing them to suspend their contracts until June next year.
Solomon, who can play as an attacking midfielder or winger, exercised this option before agreeing on terms with Fulham on a deal until June 30, 2023, but he cannot be registered until Aug. 1, Fulham said.
He has scored 22 goals and provided nine assists in 106 appearances for Shakhtar.
Solomon made his debut for Israel in September 2018 and has scored six goals in 31 matches.
"Manor is a very talented young player, and he's made it clear that coming to Fulham is his preference, so we know that he'll work hard for our club," Fulham co-owner Tony Khan said.
"And we believe that he can produce and make valuable contributions for us in the Premier League."
Fulham earned promotion to the top flight by winning the Championship last season. They kick off their new campaign by hosting Liverpool on Aug. 6.