Sepahan signs World Cup winner Nzonzi; Mohammadi joins Persepolis
Persian Gulf Pro League club Sepahan signed French midfielder Steven Nzonzi a free agent.
A former player of Stoke City, Sevilla – with whom he won the UEFA Europa League in 2016 – and AS Roma, Nzonzi spent last season at Turkish top-flight side Konyaspor, scoring four goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.
Capped 20 times for the national team, Nzonzi, 35, was part of the French squad when Les Bleus lifted the World Cup trophy in 2018.
The central midfielder is the ninth player to join Jose Morais’s side during a busy transfer window, following Javad Aqaeipour, Mahdi Limouchi, Mohammad-Amin Hazbavi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Goodarzi, Mohammad Alinejad, Mohammad-Mahdi Mohebbi, and Vahdat Hanonov.
Having finished third in the league last season, Sepahan got off to a flying start in the new campaign, beating newly-promoted Chadormalou 3-1 at home on Friday.
Reds recruitment
Meanwhile, Iranian international fullback Milad Mohammadi joined Iranian champion Persepolis after terminating his contract with Turkish side Adana Demirspor.
Mohammadi’s signing ends the Reds’ desperate quest for an orthodox left back after parting ways with Ali Ne’mati and Qatari Abdelkarim Hassan before the new season, new Spanish head coach Juan Carlos Garrido had to use left-footed winger Vahid Amiri in the back four during the preseason friendlies, as well as the 1-1 home draw against Zob Ahan on the opening day of the league campaign.
Mohammadi, 30, whose twin brother Mehrdad plays for Persepolis archrival Esteghlal, has 62 international caps under his belt and represented the country at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, while helping the team reach the 2019 and 2023 Asian Cup semifinals.