Iran international Mohebbi completes Kalba move
Iran international winger Mohammad-Mahdi Mohebbi left Sepahan to join Ittihad Kalba in the Emirati ADNOC Pro League.
Kalba had to pay a $600,000 release clause to secure the signing of the 25-year-old Iranian, who enjoyed a prolific campaign with Sepahan last season, contributing nine goals and 10 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, to help the club finish runner-up to Tractor in the Iranian top flight and book a spot at the AFC Champions League playoffs.
Mohebbi will team up with fellow-Iranians Shahriar Moghanlou, Saman Qoddous, Ahmad Nourollahi, who joined from Al Wahda last month, and young center-back Amirhossein Samdaliri at his new club.
Kalba hopes Mohebbi will be a perfect replacement for Iranian winger Mahdi Qayedi, who registered 18 goals and eight assists last term to be shortlisted for the UAE Pro League’s player-of-the-season prize before signing for Dubai-based club Al Nasr in July.
An impressive season with Sepahan saw Mohebbi receive a first international callup by Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei for June’s double header against Qatar and North Korea at the World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Mohebbi was on the scoresheet and provided Mahdi Taremi with an assist as Iran defeated North Korea 3-0 in Tehran to finish atop the qualification group.
His departure will be a massive blow for Sepahan and new head coach Moharram Navidkia ahead of the new season, which will get underway with a crunch visit to Qatari club Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League playoffs next Tuesday.
The winner of the single-leg tie will progress to the West Region’s league phase in the Asian elite clubs’ competition.