Week of Armenian Footballers: Long-Awaited Transfers and European Cup Matches

We continue our weekly column on Sportaran.com, where we подробно track how Armenian footballers performed over the course of the week — from Tuesday to Tuesday — across different countries around the world. This edition covers events from January 27 to February 3.

This turned out to be one of the busiest weeks of the winter: several major transfers, European competition matches, and active performances from Armenian legionnaires in Europe, South America, and Asia.

Key Transfers of Armenian Footballers

The main events of the week were, of course, the transfers of Armenian players completed on the final day of the winter transfer window in Europe’s top leagues (February 2).

• Styopa Mkrtchyan joined 1. FC Nürnberg (2. Bundesliga)

• Grant-Leon Ranos became a player for Eintracht Braunschweig (2. Bundesliga)

This strengthens Armenian representation in German football — an important factor for the national team.

Additionally:

• Aventis Aventisyan moved to Greek second-tier club PAE Chania

• Artur Avagimyan returned to Chornomorets Odesa

• Albert Aleksanjan signed with IFK Norrköping

• Artur Galoyan went on loan to FC Shinnik Yaroslavl

A separate note on Nair Tiknizyan: he stayed at Red Star Belgrade and will continue competing for the Serbian title and in European competitions. Despite active rumors about moves to Russian and German clubs, most of the talk turned out to be agent-driven.

As for Armenians in Russian clubs, the transfer window there is still open. Trials are ongoing: Valeriy Tsarukyan at FC Akhmat Grozny, Vadim Harutyunyan at FC Rotor Volgograd, Tigran Avanesyan at FC Orenburg, and others.

Armenian Footballers Over the Last Week (Jan 27 – Feb 3)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter, Serie A)

The former captain of the Armenia national team was, as always, very active and took part in two winning matches for his team. Henrikh Mkhitaryan continues to play regularly for Inter and remains an important part of the squad rotation.

• January 28 (Wednesday, Champions League) — Borussia Dortmund vs Inter (0:2)
  Mkhitaryan started against his former club and played 88 minutes. SofaScore rating — 7.4.

• February 1 (Sunday, Serie A) — Cremonese vs Inter (0:2)
  Came on in the 60th minute. SofaScore rating — 7.2.

Nair Tiknizyan (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)

A draw in the Europa League allowed the team to advance to the playoffs, and in the league they earned an important win, which helped them return to first place.

• January 29 (Thursday, Europa League) — Red Star Belgrade vs Celta (1:1)
  Tiknizyan started and played 50 minutes, picking up an injury. SofaScore rating — 6.8.

• February 1 (Sunday, Serbian SuperLiga) — Čukarički vs Red Star Belgrade (1:3)
  Tiknizyan remained on the bench.

Artur Miranyan (Bnei Sakhnin, Israeli league)

The 30-year-old Armenia national team forward continues to perform consistently in Israel, and his team is one point away from the championship group (7th place).

• January 31 (Saturday, Israeli league) — Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoel Jerusalem (0:0)
  Miranyan played the full match. SofaScore rating — 7.0.

Narek Grigoryan (Farul, Romanian SuperLiga)

Farul earned their second consecutive win and moved up to 10th place.

• February 1 (Sunday, Romanian SuperLiga) — Farul vs Universitatea Craiova (4:1)
  Grigoryan played 70 minutes and provided an assist. SofaScore rating — 6.8.

Georgi Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary)

The team recorded a clean win, and Harutyunyan played confidently at center-back.

• January 31 (Saturday, Hungarian league) — Újpest vs Puskás Akadémia (0:1)
  Harutyunyan played the full match. SofaScore rating — 7.4.

Norberto Briasco Balekian (Barracas, Argentina)

The 29-year-old striker made his debut for his new team.

• February 1 (Sunday, Liga Profesional) — Barracas vs Deportivo Rivadavia (1:1)
  Balekian came on in the 82nd minute. SofaScore rating — 6.4.

Lucas Zelarayán (Belgrano, Argentina)

• January 30 (Friday, Liga Profesional) — Belgrano vs Tigre (1:1)
  Played the full match. SofaScore rating — 5.7. His cousin Gonzalo Zelarayán remained on the bench.

Tomás Adoryan (Banfield, Argentina)

He took part in two matches during the week.

• January 30 (Friday, Liga Profesional) — Sarmiento vs Banfield (1:0)
  Started, played 38 minutes, and received a yellow card. SofaScore rating — 7.0.

• February 3 (Tuesday, Liga Profesional) — Banfield vs Estudiantes Río Cuarto (2:1)
  Started, played 56 minutes. SofaScore rating — 6.5.

Vahan Bichakhchyan (Legia, Poland)

Legia lost their first official match of the year and are in the relegation zone.

• February 1 (Sunday, Ekstraklasa) — Legia vs Deportivo Korona (1:2)
  Bichakhchyan started and played 83 minutes. SofaScore rating — 6.3.

Vbeimar Angulo (Malut United, Indonesia)

• January 31 (Saturday, Indonesian Super League) — Malut United vs Bhayangkara (1:2)
  Played the full match. SofaScore rating — 6.8.

Solomon Udo (Al-Arabi, Saudi First Division)

• February 3 (Tuesday, Saudi First Division) — Al-Ula vs Al-Arabi (2:1)
  Udo started, but got injured and left the pitch in the 9th minute.

Jordi Monroy Ararat (Deportivo Pereira, Colombia)

The 30-year-old footballer, who has not been called up to the Armenia national team for a long time, continues to play regularly in Colombia.

• February 3 (Tuesday, Primera A) — Pereira vs Junior Barranquilla (2:3)
  Played the full match and received a yellow card. SofaScore rating — 6.3.

Finn Geragusyan (Sunderland U18, England)

The 18-year-old striker from Armenia’s youth national team played for the U18s this time, although he had played the previous two matches for the U21 team.

• January 29 (Thursday, U18 FA Youth Cup) — Sunderland U18 vs West Bromwich U18 (3:3, pens 4:3)
  Geragusyan started, scored 1 goal, and was sent off in the 107th minute.

Albert Mnatsakanyan (Luftëtari, Albanian First Division)

• January 31 (Saturday, Albanian First Division) — Laçi vs Luftëtari (1:0)
  Played the first half as a central midfielder, and came out wearing the captain’s armband in his third match for the new club.

In addition, many Armenian footballers — as well as Armenian clubs — played friendly matches, and 22-year-old Pavel Gorelov scored a goal for Orenburg.

Week’s Summary

Two moves to Germany, Mkhitaryan’s steady top-level performances, Tiknizyan’s important European matches, and the wide geography of Armenian legionnaires — from Italy to Argentina. This was one of the most eventful weeks of the winter period.