Eden Kartsev

Eden Vadimovich Kartsev (or Kartzev, עדן ואדימוביץ' קארצב, Эдэн Вадзімавіч Карцаў, Эден Вадимович Карцев; born 11 April 2000) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Chinese Super League club Shenzhen Peng City, on loan from Turkish Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir, and the Israel national team.

He also holds a Belarusian passport.

Club career
Kartsev made his professional debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel's Toto Cup Al on 12 August 2017, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute for Shlomi Yosef Azulay against fellow Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Ra'anana. He made his first appearance in the Israeli Premier League on 9 February 2018 while on loan at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam, starting in the away match against Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon.

On 12 August 2022, Kartsev agreed on a transfer with Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow, on loan with an option to buy. On 23 August 2022, the deal between Dynamo Moscow and Maccabi Netanya was cancelled due to the sanctions imposed on the Russian banks after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Dynamo Moscow payment did not reach Maccabi Netanya's account by the deadline specified in the contract, and then Kartsev returned to Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Netanya.

On 30 January 2023, Kartsev signed a 4.5-year contract worth €2.25 million with Turkey's Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir after the Turkish side agreed to pay Maccabi Netanya the €2.3 million transfer fee (highest transfer fee in the history of Maccabi Netanya).

In January 2024, Kartzev faced a disciplinary investigation by his club over a social media post. According to Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber, the player re-posted an image with the hashtag "#BringThemHomeNow" in apparent support of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The Turkish Football Federation referred Kartsev to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board for potential breaches of Article 42 of the Football Disciplinary Instruction, citing "ideological propaganda", for which an eight-match ban could be imposed. While Kartzev was discussing leaving Başakşehir in a loan deal away from Turkey, an eight-match ban may apply worldwide.

On 18 January 2024, Kartsev returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv, on loan from İstanbul Başakşehir, until the end of the season, with an option to finalise it as a permanent transfer.

International career
Kartsev made his senior international debut for Israel on 11 October 2020 in a 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B match, coming on as a 88th-minute substitute in the 1–2 home loss against the Czech Republic.

He also plays for Israel U21 since 2018.

Personal life
Kartsev was born in Afula, Israel, to parents from Minsk, Belarus who immigrated to Israel in 1996. His father Vadim Kartsev is a former footballer who played in Belarus for FC Vitebsk and in Israel for Sektzia Ness Ziona and Hapoel Afula. He has an older sister who also resides in Israel. Kartsev and his family also speak fluent Russian.

Honours
Maccabi Tel Aviv
 * Israel State Cup: 2020–21
 * Toto Cup: 2020–21
 * Israel Super Cup: 2020

Maccabi Netanya
 * Toto Cup: 2022–23