Persian Gulf Pro League transfer summary

PFDC – TEHRAN, As the 2012 summer transfer window has come to a close, many significant deals have been closed, with Iran’s national team captain Javad Nekounam’s rumoured move to Esteghlal F.C. dominating the headlines. 

Persepolis

After a disappointing former season, chairman Mohammad Rouyanian was eager to bring on many Team Melli footballers to strengthen his team and hopefully result in grabbing their tenth league title.

After newly appointing widely known Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, the
most popular football club in Asia was able to sign Zob Ahan goalkeeper Shahab Gordan and Team Melli defender Seyed Jalal Hosseini. The Red’s
also didn’t fall short in picking up the right forwards, after sealing the deal
on Saipa striker Karim Ansarifard. They also went on to pick up numerous popular defenders such as left back Mehrdad Pouladi, center back Mohsen Bengar and Hossein Mahini. 

Persepolis released former captain and defender Sheys Rezaei, keeper Misagh Memarzadeh, and forward Vahid Hashemian. Alireza Mohammad also made the move to newly promoted Gohar Zagros F.C based in Lorestan, Iran. Renown center back Mohammad Nosrati returned back to his former club Tractor Sazi Tabriz.

Esteghlal

Finishing third and booking a place in the Asian Champions League in 2013, one of the most popular football clubs in Asia is looking to advance their placement and possibly look to win in the new season of the Iran Pro League.

Fabio Januario re-united with Esteghlal after leaving to grant Sepahan two consecutive trophies in the IPL. Siavash Akbarpour wasn’t the only one to reunite after leaving in 2010 to Tractor Sazi and Steel Azin before returning. Beikzadeh was transferred from Sepahan and former Persepolis and Shahrdari Tabriz player Maysam Bao exchanged for the blue uniform.

Goalkeeper Mohammadi and Iman Mobali joined the team, though only to be loaned out to Rah Ahan and Paykan supposedly to aid financially for the large transfer of Javad Nekounam. The Osasuna skipper and Team Melli captain reportedly will make the big move to the Tehran giants this season for a demanded fee of 2.5 million euros. 

Important transfers out: Jerkovic released; Amirabadi to Foolad; Teymourian to Al Kharitiyath; Shirzad to Malavan; Sharifat to Foolad.

Sepahan

Esfahani giants Sepahan will represent Iran in the Asian Champions League in September, though fell short in the transfer window after losing numerous key players. 

One of the highlights was the addition of Team Melli striker Mohammad Reza Khalatbari to the squad with 47 caps and three well known winners against Uzbekistan, Maldives and Russia. 

Sepahan also tacked on Montenegro international Radomir Đalović known as being the second best scorer on the team. The 29 year old was the top scorer in Croatia after scoring 18 goals in 31 appearances in his first year for NK Rijeka, and netting 16 in 43 caps his second. 

Sepahan also successfully transferred a trio from rivals Zob Ahan, those being defenders Farshid Talebi, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi and youth keeper Bagher Sadeghi. Damash Gilan midfielder Milad Zeneyedpour and forward Mohammad Gholami were also signed.

The defending champions sold defenders Mohsen Bengar and Seyed Jalal Hosseini to Persepolis, Rahman Ahmadi to Saipa, Fabio Januario and Beikzadeh to Esteghlal. Al Nasr of the UAE also signed forward Bruno Correa. Sepahan released long-time Iraqi striker Emad Mohammad Reza.

Zob Ahan

Nicknamed “The Greens” (Sabzepushan), Sepahan rivals Zob Ahan of Esfahan never failed to disappoint, finishing 6th in the Iran Pro League in 2011 and once being runners up in the 2010 editions of the Asian Champions League.

During the 2012 summer transfer window in Iran, Zob Ahan earned the signature of Sepehr Heidari from Mes, and Mehdi Rajabzadeh from Fajr Sepasi. Montenegrin goalkeeper Bozovic made the move to Zob Ahan as well.

Losses on the other hand were heartbreaking after Zob Ahan let go of Hossein Mahini, Farshid Talebi, Ahmadi, keeper Shahab Gordan and forward Mohammad Ghazi. Brazilian striker Igor Castro was released after four years and 112 appearances for the Esfahani side.

Saipa Karaj

Known for having the best youth teams in the Iranian Pro League, the Karaj based side signed youth gem Kaveh Rezaei. Forward and goal scorer Saeed Daghighi was brought to Karaj from recently relegated Shahrdari Tabriz. 

Former Sepahan keeper Rahman Ahmadi was also recently signed to Saipa, along with Mohsen Yousefi from Esteghlal and Ebrahim Shakouri from Persepolis.

Important transfers out: Ansarifard to Persepolis; Pirouz Ghorbani to Rah Ahan

Saba Qom

One time Hafzi Cup winners in 2005, Saba Qom finished 4th in the 2011-12 season having a chance to represent Iran in the ACL if they win a playoff match against Tractor Sazi Tabriz. 

Saba most importantly bought the signature of Iranian star striker Mohsen Khalili, Bahman Tahmasebi from Aluminium Hormozgan and Mehdi Momeni from Foolad Khuzestan.

Important transfers out: Reza Enayati to Mes Kerman; Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh released

Aluminium Hormozgan 

Led by coach Akbar Misaghian, the newly promoted Bandar Abbas based club will be looking to raise some eyebrows in the 2012-2013 season of the Iran Pro League. 

The most notable pickup was arguably Syrian defender Mohammed Estanbeli from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ansar. He’s formerly played for Al Wahda and Teshrin of Syria. Reza Nasehi from Sepahan and Mohsen Hamidi from Shahin was also signed by Aluminium.

Important transfers out: Ali Karimi to Shahrdari Tabriz; Bahman Tahmasebi to Saba Qom

Tractor Sazi Tabriz

Tractor finished in an excellent second place in the IPL, and will be in search of their first IPL title in 2013.

Tractor got off to an explosive start to the new season earning the finger print of famed Portugese coach Toni. As a result the enormous fan base welcomed newly signed Joao Vilela and Anselmo Cardoso. Also signed were defender Mohammad Nosrati and Ghasem Dehnavi. Seyed Mehdi Salehi was brought from Sepahan.

Important players transferred out: Alenemeh released; Alizadeh released; Ashoubi to Rah Ahan; Sadeghi to Esteghlal; Akbarpour to Esteghlal; Hadadifar returned to Zob Ahan from loan.