New signing: Jean Harisson Marcelin

The Rapid squad have assembled in Freistadt, Upper Austria for training camp, and Head Coach Peter Stöger can now welcome Jean Harisson Marcelin to the ranks!

The tall defender (born Feb 12th, 2000) has signed from Israeli top-flight club Beitar Jerusalem with immediate effect. Jean is a Madagascan citizen who has represented France at both U-19 and U-20 levels, before playing a senior international for the East African island nation in March. His footballing career began with AJ Auxerre, before he made a multi-million Euro move to AS Monaco in January 2020. After two seasons on loan at Cercle Brügge in Belgium, he spent time in the French second tier at Girondins de Bordeaux. After their financial troubles, he moved to Beitar for the season just gone, where he was voted the league’s best defender.

SK Rapid and Beitar Jerusalem have agreed a deal for a permanent transfer, with Jean Harisson Marcelin signing a contract until the end of the 2027/28 season.

Managing Director of Sport Markus Katzer had this to say on the team’s latest addition: "Jean Harisson Marcelin is a similar type of player to our proven regular Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao. He is also characterised by a very calm and pressing-resistant build-up play as well as his strong heading. 'Ari' has a very good positional game and therefore meets the most important requirements for a place in the centre of our defence perfectly."

Jean Harisson Marcelin, who goes by “Ari” and will play in Green & White with the number 24 jersey in future, said: “I'm very happy that the transfer has worked out so quickly, and I'm glad that I can get to know my new team-mates and coaches at the training camp.”