Omri Gandelman ( also spelled ; born ) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Lecce and the Israel national team.
Gandelman was born and raised in Hod HaSharon, Israel, to an Israeli family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and of Sephardi Jewish descent. His father is Israeli former basketball player Shmuel "Shmulik" Gandelman, and grandson of Rami Gandelman who was a basketball manager and a sports personality in Jerusalem.
He also holds a Portuguese passport, on account of his Sephardi Jewish ancestors, which eases the move to certain European football leagues.
Gandelman is a youth product of the academies of the Israeli clubs Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Ra'anana. In 2018, he was scouted by the German academy of Wehen Wiesbaden and had a stint there, before returning to his native Israel for its mandatory military service.
Gandelman made his professional senior debut with Maccabi Netanya in a 3âÂÂ1 Israeli Premier League victory over Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona on 2 June 2020.
In October 2023, Gandelman signed a four-year contract with Belgian Pro League club Gent for a reported fee of â¬2.35 million. He spent two-and-a-half seasons at the club, scoring 33 goals in 108 appearances.
On 9 January 2026, Gandelman moved to Italy, joining Serie A club Lecce on a contract until June 2029, with an option for a further year.
Gandelman played for the Israel U21 side from 2021 to 2023.
Coming on as a substitute within the first half, Gandelman debuted with the seniors' Israel national team in a 4âÂÂ2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification away loss against Austria on 12 November 2021. Gandelman scored his first international goal for Israel in their UEFA Nations League match against France on 10 October 2024.
Gandelman has been selected for the Israel U23's squad, ahead of the men's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
He has played for the Israel U23 the whole three Olympic matches, as they were knocked out after the group-stage ended. Gandelman scored a goal against Paraguay U23 to make it a 1âÂÂ1 tie, which was eventually lost.
As of late 2023, Gandelman resides in Gent, Belgium, along with his Israeli girlfriend Meital.
Maccabi Netanya