Yesterday, Sabah officially announced that they had parted ways with midfielder Anatoliy Nuriyev.

Half an hour after this news, it was revealed that the 29-year-old player had signed a contract with Zira.

However, Nuriyev's inclusion in the match squad for Sabah’s game against Araz-Nakhchivan on February 8 raised certain questions. According to information obtained by Offsideplus.az, although the contract was terminated on February 9, the "Owls" delayed the official announcement at the player's own request.

The midfielder wanted the public to be informed only after all matters regarding his transfer to Zira were finalized.

Sanan Abdullayev, Media and Marketing Director of the Professional Football League, clarified the matter in a statement to our website:

"The contract between the player and Sabah was terminated by mutual consent on February 9, 2026. Following this, a contract was signed between the player and Zira on the same date. According to Article 17 of the Regulations, the registration period ends on February 10, 2026, at 23:59. Additionally, March 31, 2026, has been set as the deadline for professional players with free agent status. In this case, the player's contract with Zira complies with the Regulations."

It should be noted that Nuriyev had been playing for Sabah since 2022. He made 118 appearances for the "Owls," scoring 12 goals, winning silver and bronze medals in the Misli Premier League, and also securing the Azerbaijan Cup.