Iran international keeper Niazmand signs for Persepolis
Weeks of speculation over Payam Niazmand’s future came to an end as the Iranian international goalkeeper joined Persepolis as a free agent from Sepahan on Monday, the Tehran Reds announced.
Niazmand, 30, who signed a two-year contract with the Reds, spent six seasons over two spells at Sepahan and registered 89 clean sheets in 201 appearances, helping the club lift the Hazfi Cup trophy last year.
Having made his Persian Gulf Pro League debut with Paykan in 2016, Niazmand joined Portimonense for the start of the 2023/24 season but returned to Sepahan a year later after making only five appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese top-flight side.
Capped on seven occasions for the national team, Niazmand is expected to be part of the Iranian squad at the World Cup finals in North America next year.
Niazmand’s arrival could spell the end of Alexis Guendouz’s time in Persepolis. The Algerian keeper joined the club last summer and had 15 clean sheets in 37 games with the Reds but his lack of contribution to the buildup play prompted Turkish head coach Ismail Kartal to seek a new number one.
Niazmand is the Reds’ fifth signing in as many days since the conclusion of the league season, which promises a summer of shakeup in the squad under Kartal, after his team finished the campaign without a trophy.
Persepolis failed to reach the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League Elite and was beaten by Sepahan in the Hazfi Cup last 16, while finishing third in the league table with 60 points – eight adrift of champion Tractor.
This was a worst league position in 10 seasons for the Reds, who dominated the Iranian club football for nearly a decade with seven top-flight titles – including domestic doubles on two occasions – while reaching the final showpiece of the Asian elite clubs’ competition twice.
Persepolis has already secured the services of Congolese winger Thievy Bifouma and Amin Kazemian from Esteghlal Khuzestan and Iralco, respectively, while Mojtaba Fakhrian joined as a young frontline prospect form Shams Azar, and attacking midfielder Reza Shekari left Sepahan as a free agent to sign for the Reds.