Tomer Hemed

Tomer Hemed (Hebrew: תומר חמד‎; born 2 May 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Charlton Athletic and the Israel national team.

Early life

Hemed was born in Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel, to an Israeli-born father whose family is of Sephardic Jewish (Syrian-Jewish) descent, and to a Polish-born mother whose family is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. As a result, Hemed also holds a Polish passport, which eased his move to European leagues. He is the youngest of four brothers.

Club career

Maccabi Haifa

Hemed was called up to Maccabi Haifa's first-team in early 2006, after scoring regularly for the under-18 side. He appeared three times with the main squad, scoring once, before returning to the youth side. He made his debut in the campaign on 3 March 2007, coming on as a substitute in a 1–2 home loss against Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv. Hemed scored his first professional goals on 26 May, netting his side's both goals in a 2–0 win at Maccabi Herzliya. In 2007, he travelled with the Under-21 side to that year's Torneo di Viareggio; he scored once as Haifa was knocked-out in the group stage.

Hemed was subsequently loaned to Maccabi Herzliya, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv and Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (the latter being managed by John Gregory). Nazareth, however, finished last as Hemed scored nine goals.

Hemed returned to Maccabi Haifa in the 2010 summer, and appeared in 45 matches during the 2010–11 campaign, also scoring 18 goals as the club was crowned champions.

Mallorca

On 21 June 2011, Hemed signed a three-year deal with Spanish La Liga club RCD Mallorca. He made his debut in the main category of the Spanish football on 28 August, starting and being booked in a 1–0 home success against RCD Espanyol.

Hemed scored his first goals abroad on 1 October, scoring both his side's goals in a 2–2 draw at CA Osasuna. He also netted twice in his Copa del Rey debut, a 6–1 home routing over Real Sociedad on 10 January of the following year.

Hemed finished his first season abroad with nine goals, although four of them were from the penalty spot. In his second season he scored 11 goals, with the Balearic Islands outfit being relegated, however. In May 2013 Hemed suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, which kept him sidelined for seven months.

Almería

On 2 July 2014 Hemed returned to the Spanish top level, by agreeing to a two-year deal with UD Almería. After struggling to score in his first matches, he netted his first goal with the Andalusians on 4 October, the last in a 2–2 home draw against Elche CF.

In January 2015, Hemed scored two braces against Málaga CF (2–1 away win) and Valencia CF (2–3 away loss), taking his tally up to six. He finished the campaign with eight goals, being the club's top goalscorer, but suffered team relegation.

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 24 June 2015 Hemed signed a three-year deal with English Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for the Seagulls from the penalty spot in the last moments of an away game at Fulham, to seal a 2–1 victory. Hemed scored just one goal between September 2015 and February 2016, which drew criticism from supporters, but rediscovered his early season form to finish as the club's top scorer with 17 goals.

Hemed scored 13 goals in all competitions in Brighton's promotion-winning 2016–17 season, trading starting positions regularly with top-scorer Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock in a strike force that managed to score 44 league goals between them. Highlights from Hemed throughout the season included a last gasp equaliser in a 3–3 draw away to Brentford, the only goal in a hard earned 1–0 win against Cardiff City, and a late penalty in a narrow 1–0 away win against Burton Albion.

On 9 September 2017, Hemed scored his first Premier League goal for Brighton in a 3–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Hemed scored again in Brighton's next home Premier League game, a 1–0 win against Newcastle United on 24 September. Three days later, the FA announced that Hemed had been given a three-match ban for a stamp on the calf of Newcastle defender DeAndre Yedlin, an incident which went unnoticed by referee Andre Marriner.

On 16 November 2017, Hemed signed a contract extension with Brighton, keeping him on the south coast until the summer of 2019.

Queens Park Rangers (loan)

On 23 August 2018, Hemed joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan. Two days later he scored his first goal for the club on his debut against Wigan Athletic in a 1–0 win at Loftus Road.

Charlton Athletic

On 19 August 2019, Hemed joined Charlton Athletic on a one-year deal. He made his debut for The Addicks as a substitute in a 1–0 home victory over fellow London side, Brentford on 24 August.

International career

Hemed appeared with the under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21s, featuring regularly with the youth squads. In January 2011, he was called up to the main squad for a behind closed doors friendly against FC Dynamo Kyiv. Hemed made his unofficial debut on the 26th, scoring in a 3–2 win.

In May 2011, Hemed was called up to train with the national team for a friendly against Latvia in June. On 4 June, he made his international debut, starting and assisting Yossi Benayoun in a 2–1 victory.

Hemed scored his first international goal on 6 September, but in a 1–3 loss against Croatia. He also scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 routing against Luxembourg on 12 October of the following year.

Personal life

In 2013, he married Israeli model Shunit Faragi, who was crowned second place at Miss Israel 2008, and also represented their homeland in Miss Universe 2008. In 2014, they had their first daughter.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 March 2020

International

As of 5 September 2019

International goals

As of match played 5 September 2019. Israel score listed first, score column indicates score after each Hemed goal.

Honours

Maccabi Haifa

• Israeli Premier League: 2010–11

Brighton & Hove Albion

• EFL Championship runner-up: 2016–17

Individual

• Israel Footballer of the Year: 2017–18