Persepolis agrees deal to sign Uzbek striker Sergeev
Persepolis has reached an agreement with Igor Sergeev to sign the Uzbekistan international striker from Pakhtakor, the Persian Gulf Pro League club announced on Sunday.
Sergeev, 32, is set to arrive in Tehran on Monday to undergo medical tests ahead of completing his move to Persepolis. He will link up with Uzbekistan teammate Oston Urunov for the second half of the Iranian league season, with the transfer fee and contract length yet to be confirmed by the Capital Reds.
Sergeev scored 25 goals and provided three assists in 38 appearances across all competitions as Pakhtakor finished runner-up to Neftchi in the Uzbekistan Super League, which concluded in November.
Capped 81 times by Uzbekistan, Sergeev has scored 24 international goals – including one in a 2-2 home draw against Iran in the preliminary stage of the World Cup qualifiers in November 2023.
The striker missed much of the final round of the Asian qualifiers after suffering a torn cruciate ligament, but returned to action in June, scoring in a 3-0 victory over Qatar to help Uzbekistan secure a maiden World Cup finals berth. The Central Asian side has been drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and one of DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia at the tournament in North America next summer.
Chasing an eighth league title in a decade, Persepolis sits second in the Iranian top-flight standings with 28 points from 15 matches – two points behind leaders Sepahan – after winning five of its last six games. That run has come since Brazilian head coach Osmar Loss Vieira returned for a second spell in October, replacing Vahid Hashemian.
Sergeev’s arrival will provide a major boost for the Tehran Reds, who currently have only one established No. 9 in Ali Alipour.
His signing is expected to mark the start of a busy mid-season transfer window for Persepolis.
The club have also held talks with Uzbek international full-back Khojiakbar Alijonov in recent weeks as a potential replacement for Ivorian defender Serge Aurier, who parted ways with Persepolis on Saturday — along with Iranian winger Farshad Ahmadzadeh — after the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain player made just three starts since joining in the summer.
Persepolis are also reportedly considering a move for Shams Azar’s young defender Farzin Mo’amelegari, who is currently with the national team in Saudi Arabia for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup, to provide additional competition for Iranian international Miad Mohammadi at left-back.