Esteghlal signs Iranian striker Saharkhizan
Esteghlal signed young Iranian striker Saied Saharkhizan from Russian club FC Orenburg on a three-year contract, reportedly worth €2 million, the Persian Gulf Pro League club announced on Friday.
Saharkhizan, 22, bagged eight goals and one assist in 32 appearances across all competitions for Orenburg last season, having joined the Russian outfit last summer from Iranian top-flight side Golgohar.
Saharkhizan, who contributed 10 strikes and four assists in his season-long spell at Golgohar, is the ninth summer signing for the Tehran Blues, who are desperate to improve on a dreadful campaign last term.
Esteghlal, which has Portuguese Ricardo Sa Pinto back on the bench as the head coach, finished ninth in the 16-team table of the Iranian top division last season, and was knocked out by Saudi giant Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League Elite last-16.
The Blues still managed to win the Hazfi Cup trophy under interim boss Mojtaba Jabbari in May and secure a place in the upcoming AFC Champions League Two season.
Esteghlal’s activity in the market gathered pace in recent days as the club secured a deal with Albanian international winger Jasir Asani last Sunday, before former Real Madrid and Sporting CP goalkeeper Antonio Adán joined the Blues as a free agent on Wednesday.
Esteghlal had already signed young midfielders Esmaeil Qolizadeh and Amirmohammad Razzaqinia, plus ex-Sepahan fullback Hossein Goudarzi, Iranian center-back Aref Aqasi, Uzbekistan international center-back Rustamjon Ashurmatov, as well as former Malavan goalkeeper Habib Farabbasi.