"GARABAGH": A NEW ERA

In the 2025/2026 season, Aghdam-based FC "Garabagh" reached the Champions League round of 32 for the first time in its history. Despite the club’s best-ever European result, Gurban Gurbanov’s side failed to retain the Azerbaijani league title. After the season ended, the Horsemen, who finished second in the Premier League, embarked on a large-scale squad overhaul.

Club philosophy and transfer policy

The changes that "Garabagh" carried out ahead of the 2026/2027 season signal a review of the club’s philosophy and transfer policy. For many years, the Aghdam club dominated the Azerbaijani championship and performed consistently on the European stage. Now, under head coach Gurban Gurbanov, the team is entering a phase of strategic squad rejuvenation and a more balanced financial approach.

The need for the current overhaul stems from a systemic renewal of the squad. The club’s management and coaching staff are aiming to optimise the average age of the players and to build a dynamic team capable of coping with the congested European fixture list. According to the latest figures, the squad includes 27 footballers, with an average age of 27.1 years. The proportion of foreign players reaches 70.4% (19 players), which helps preserve the international experience the club has accumulated in recent years.

The departure of several key footballers who formed the backbone of the team not only created certain tactical challenges but also brought the club a significant financial windfall.

Leandro Andrade (€3m, "Polissya", Ukraine): The transfer of the 26-year-old right winger to the Ukrainian club became the main source of income in the current window. His high speed, individual skill and ability to finish attacks effectively made Andrade one of the key factors in the variety of "Garabagh"’s attacking play. His departure also reflected the player’s own desire to continue his career on better financial terms.

Camilo Durán ("Celtic", Scotland): The Colombian forward’s move to the Scottish giants became one of the biggest transfers in the history of Azerbaijani football. Last season the 24-year-old striker played 48 official matches, scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists. He was particularly impressive in the UEFA Champions League, where he found the net five times in ten appearances. His departure was a serious loss for the attacking line. At the same time, the club earned around £5.5 million (approximately ₼12 million) from the transfer.

Kevin Medina ("Johor Darul Ta’zim", Malaysia): The 33-year-old Colombian centre-back, who had been one of the defensive leaders since 2020, left the club by mutual consent as a free agent. His move to the Malaysian club means the loss of an experienced defensive organiser.

In addition, the team lost Tural Bayramov, who joined Turkish club "Bursaspor"; goalkeeper Fabian Buntić, who continued his career at Portuguese side "Farense"; and young goalkeeper Amin Ramazanov, who signed for "Sabah" as a free agent. These departures reduced the options for squad rotation but, at the same time, opened the door for a new generation of players.

To compensate for the loss of leaders, "Garabagh" stepped up its recruitment work considerably and, during the summer transfer window, signed eight new footballers. The average age of the newcomers is 25, which confirms the club’s policy of building a young and promising squad.

Among the new signings

Bruno Langa (€1m, "Almería", Spain): The 28-year-old Mozambique international left-back has signed a three-year contract until the summer of 2029. His most recent clubs were Spain’s "Almería" and Portugal’s "Estrela". Langa is expected to strengthen the left side of the defence and replace Elvin Jafarguliyev. He made his debut in the starting line-up in the very first official UEFA Europa League match and managed to leave a good impression.

Jabrayil Makreckis (€1m, "Ferencváros", Hungary): The German-born product of "Bayer Leverkusen"’s academy became the club’s eighth and final signing of the current off-season. The 26-year-old Latvian right-back has signed a contract until 2029. His experience with "Borussia Dortmund" and in the Hungarian league should help him play an important role in the restructuring of "Garabagh"’s defence.

Bence Várkonyi (€1m, "Zalaegerszeg", Hungary): Following Kevin Medina’s departure, the club reinforced the centre of defence with the 24-year-old Hungarian defender, who is capable of providing solidity at the back.

Renaldo Cephas (€880,000, "Pari NN", Russia): The 26-year-old Jamaica international, who can operate on either flank or as a centre-forward, has signed a three-year contract. Thanks to his spells with North Macedonia’s "Shkupi" and Turkish "Ankaragücü", he has already established himself as a versatile and dynamic footballer who should strengthen the team’s attacking potential.

Martin Zlomislić (€500,000, "Rijeka", Croatia): The 27-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international goalkeeper has agreed a ‘3+1’ deal. He has been brought in to strengthen the goalkeeping department and will be the main competitor for Mateusz Kochalski.

Zakaria Savo (€500,000, "Djurgården", Sweden): The 26-year-old forward can add attacking variety and physical power, giving Gurban Gurbanov additional tactical options.

Samuel Lobato (€150,000, "Portimonense", Portugal) and Djali Mouaddib (€30,000, "Omonia Aradippou", Cyprus) have been brought in to expand the midfield and left-flank rotation options. The young footballers are expected to add technical diversity and depth to the squad.

Stakes and objectives

Such sweeping changes inevitably require adjustments to certain elements of the playing model that Gurban Gurbanov has built around a 4-2-3-1 formation for many years. The departures of Andrade and Durán will probably lead to the team keeping more possession and building positional attacks. At the same time, the versatility of Renaldo Cephas, who is equally effective on the wings and through the middle, will allow "Garabagh" to break down opponents’ defences more often through individual actions. Together with Mouaddib, he should make the flank play more incisive.

After Kevin Medina’s exit, there were concerns that the defence would lose stability. However, the arrivals of Bence Várkonyi and Jabrayil Makreckis, who has experience in German football, will allow the team to press higher and push the defensive line up more boldly. Bruno Langa’s arrival will also strengthen the left side – whether he replaces Elvin Jafarguliyev or competes with him for a starting place.

As the head coach himself points out, the new footballers need time to adapt to the team’s playing philosophy and the coaching staff’s demands. The results of the friendly matches during the training camp in Austria – a 0-1 defeat to "Ferencváros" and a heavy 2-6 loss to "Metalist" – showed that problems in the connection between defence and midfield have not yet been fully resolved.

It is clear that in the 2026/2027 season "Garabagh" is betting on sound management of its transfer balance and putting its faith in young, promising players. Having spent more than €5 million on eight new signings, the club is demonstrating that it has no intention of abandoning its high ambitions – both in the domestic league and in the UEFA Europa League, where it expects to perform successfully in the group stage and the knockout rounds.

The team’s main task is to turn the revamped young squad as quickly as possible into a cohesive, battle-ready unit capable of once again writing "Garabagh"’s name into the history of European football.