Ilay Feingold Bio
Ilay Feingold is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. A graduate of the Maccabi Netanya academy, he rose quickly through Israeli youth football and earned senior experience with Maccabi Haifa before moving to MLS in early 2025. Feingold has represented Israel at multiple youth levels, including the under-19, under-20, under-21, and Olympic teams, and earned his first senior cap in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Ilay Feingold was born on 23 August 2004 in Netanya, Israel. He was raised in the coastal city in the central part of the country, where he grew up in an Israeli family of Ashkenazi Jewish, Romanian-Jewish descent. His father, Avi Feingold, works as an electrician.
Through his family heritage, Feingold also holds a Romanian passport. That second nationality has helped him navigate registration rules in European football leagues and was a useful detail when clubs across borders evaluated his transfer status.
Path to Soccer
Feingold joined the youth setup at Maccabi Netanya in 2011, beginning a long formative spell at his hometown club. He developed through the academy ranks for several seasons before a brief loan move to Hapoel Ra’anana between 2019 and 2020, where he gained senior exposure as a teenager.
After returning to Maccabi Netanya, Feingold continued his rise into the first team. In January 2023, he completed a transfer to Maccabi Haifa, one of the top clubs in the Israeli Premier League, joining a squad that had just won the league title. The move positioned him to compete for trophies and to test himself in European competition.
Ilay Feingold Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Feingold’s first taste of senior football came on loan at Hapoel Ra’anana, where he spent the 2019 to 2020 season adjusting to adult competition. The spell was a vital stepping stone, allowing him to play regular minutes while still completing his development at Maccabi Netanya.
Back at Maccabi Netanya, he continued to progress through the senior setup, showing the versatility to play on the right side of defence or in the middle. His form attracted interest from bigger Israeli clubs, and in January 2023 he signed with reigning Israeli Premier League champions Maccabi Haifa.
Maccabi Haifa Era (2023–2025)
Feingold made his senior debut for Maccabi Haifa on 6 December 2023 in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League group stage, appearing in an away 0–0 draw against Spanish side Villarreal. The European appearance at nineteen signalled the club’s belief in his readiness for top-level competition.
Eleven days later, on 17 December 2023, he made his Israeli Premier League debut in the Haifa derby, starting in a 3–0 league victory over city rival Hapoel Haifa. Across the 2023–24 and 2024–25 campaigns, Feingold continued to feature for the club while balancing his commitments with Israel youth teams.
New England Revolution Era (2025–Present)
On 28 January 2025, Feingold signed with the New England Revolution on a u22 initiative contract, with the deal running through the 2027 season and a club option for 2028. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but the move gave the young defender a clear path into Major League Soccer.
He made his MLS debut and first start for the Revolution in the 2025 season opener, a 0–0 draw against Nashville SC on 22 February 2025. On 28 May 2025, he scored his first Revolution goal in a 1–1 draw with D.C. United, earning MLS Team of the Matchday honours for his performance.
Driving Style and Strengths
Feingold is comfortable operating as a right-back or stepping inside as a centre-back, giving his coaches flexibility in how they build the back line. He is composed in possession and reads the game well for a young defender, traits that helped him adapt quickly to the pace of MLS.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in his early career include a senior debut in the UEFA Europa League with Maccabi Haifa, a Haifa derby start, his first MLS goal against D.C. United, and a senior cap for Israel in a UEFA Nations League match against France. Each step has marked him as one of the more promising young defenders in Israeli football.
Ilay Feingold Career Wins
Feingold’s club career has featured league and cup appearances with Maccabi Haifa, including participation in the Israeli Premier League and European competition. While individual award tallies are not fully documented, his selection for senior debut matches and his first Revolution goal reflect a steady accumulation of milestones.
Maccabi Haifa Highlights
During his time at Maccabi Haifa, Feingold contributed to the club’s Israeli Premier League campaigns and gained valuable minutes in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League group stage. He also featured in the Haifa derby victory over Hapoel Haifa, a marquee fixture in Israeli football.
Other Wins and Performances
With Israel youth teams, Feingold reached the final of the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Slovakia, finishing as runner-up behind England, and won bronze with Israel at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. He also represented Israel U21 in 2023 and was part of the squad at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Ilay Feingold Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Feingold comes from an Israeli family of Ashkenazi Jewish, Romanian-Jewish heritage, and the family connection to Romania has given him a Romanian passport alongside his Israeli nationality. His father, Avi Feingold, works as an electrician, and the family remains based in Israel.
Personal Life
Feingold was born and raised in Netanya, Israel, where he first began playing football at Maccabi Netanya. He relocated to the United States in early 2025 to join the New England Revolution, beginning a new chapter of his career abroad.
2025 Season Performance
Feingold opened his MLS account in the 2025 season with a debut start in a 0–0 draw against Nashville SC on 22 February 2025. The early minutes allowed him to settle into the league and to build a rapport with his new defensive partners.
On 28 May 2025, he netted his first Revolution goal in a 1–1 draw with D.C. United, a performance that earned him MLS Team of the Matchday recognition. The goal and the award highlighted his growing influence on the New England back line.
With a contract that runs through 2027, the 2025 campaign is a developmental year for Feingold, balancing first-team football with his long-term integration into the squad. His early performances suggest a steady role in the Revolution’s defensive plans for seasons to come.