The Israel Cycling Academy announced that it has signed veteran sprinter Andre Greipel to a contract for the 2020 season. The German had become a free agent after terminating his contract with Arkea Samsic in early October.

The deal is the latest major move for the ambitious Israeli team, which will step up to the World Tour next year. Dan Martin joined the team in August on a two-year contract.

Greipel spent last season with Arkea after seven years with Lot Soudal, but had a tough time with the French team, winning only one race in 2019, at Le Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January.

On October 1, Greipel revealed that he and the team had terminated his contract a year early, with a decision on his future to be announced after the vacation period. [37-year-old Greipel said in a team press release, "I look forward to the challenge of once again performing at my highest level with Team ICA, a future project full of motivated and talented riders.

"I have followed the team and witnessed their rapid evolution over the last few years, and I am looking forward to the challenge of working with them again.

While Greipel's 2019 campaign has not turned out the way he and his team had imagined, there is still hope that he can add to his 156 professional wins, including 22 Grand Tour stages.

"I'm not one to look back. I know what I'm capable of and I'm going to do my best to get it back," Greipel said.

The team hopes Greipel's extensive professional experience will help her transition into the top tier in her first year on the World Tour, according to team director Kjell Carlström.

"Andre Greipel's years of experience in the sport make us honored to have him join our team. But most importantly, the wealth of experience he brings to the team in both classic and sprinter races will be greatly appreciated by the other riders as well as by the management."

"We are very pleased to have him on the team.

Greipel and Martin are the biggest signings announced by the team to date. Rory Sutherland will accompany Martin in his transfer from UAE Team Emirates, and the team will also include Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis), James Piccoli (Elevate KHS), and Patrick Schelling (Vorarlberg Santik).

Retired Reuben Plaza and Zack Dempster are on the team's leaving list, while August Jensen and Sondre Horst Engel also join Liwar Redines.