Jelle Bataille

Jelle Bataille's route to Maccabi Haifa ran through Belgium's top flight in full. Born in Tournai, he first joined KV Oostende's youth ranks, had a spell at Club Brugge, then returned to Oostende, where he broke through to the first team and made his professional debut in the Belgian First Division A.

His move to Royal Antwerp FC in July 2021 proved the turning point. Over three seasons there he collected a Belgian Pro League title, a Belgian Cup and a Belgian Super Cup. His time at Antwerp was interrupted by fitness setbacks, including a knock that kept him out between December 2024 and March 2025 and an Achilles tendon issue that followed that spring.

When his Antwerp contract ran out in July 2025, Bataille signed for Maccabi Haifa on a free transfer, agreeing a deal until June 2027. He has settled quickly into Ligat Ha'Al football, making 47 competitive appearances split across the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. He has not scored for the club yet but has set up three goals, and he carried an average rating of 7.1 through the 2025/26 campaign. Since arriving in Israel he has avoided the injury problems that disrupted the closing stages of his Antwerp career.