No kidding as Espanyol sign Israeli star from Chelsea

Spanish Championship side Espanyol has signed Israeli international striker Ben Sahar from Chelsea, the Barcelona-based club said on Monday.

It said the 19-year-old, nicknamed “the kid”, was signed to a four-year deal, but did not reveal the transfer fee.

Sahar was just 16 when Chelsea bought him from Hapoel Tel-Aviv in 2006.

He made his first club appearance the following year, but was subsequently loaned to Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Dutch side De Graafschap, where he scored 16 goals last season.

Aged 17, he became the youngest ever Israeli international player when he represented his country in a friendly against Ukraine.