Airik Balasanov signs with Italian club Monopoli

The youth team of the Italian club Monopoli has been strengthened by attacking midfielder Airik Balasanov, who previously played in Lithuania. The club, whose senior team currently ranks 5th in Serie C and is competing for promotion to Serie B, is counting on the promising player in its pursuit of leadership in the youth championship.

18-year-old Airik Balasanov (born in 2007), a midfielder of Armenian descent, began his football path in Lithuanian academies FK Gintaras, BE1 NFA, and Banga, after which he spent a short period in Germany in the JFV Lübeck system. The midfielder is known for his creativity, technical ball control, and strong left foot, allowing him to create scoring opportunities through dribbling, incisive passes, and long-range shots.

Balasanov has already made his debut for Monopoli Primavera in a match against Perugia, which his team won 1–2. In this game, the midfielder contributed to an important away victory, reducing Monopoli’s gap from the league leaders — Empoli and Pescara — to three points.

It should be noted that Airik Balasanov was called up to the Lithuania U17 national team and played in a friendly match against Armenia U17 in September 2023, which ended in a 1:1 draw.