Russian player Golovin did not join the Premier League club due to sanctions
Russian midfielder Alexander Golovin was reportedly set to transfer from Monaco to England’s Leeds United, but the deal fell through. According to a Russian propaganda source, the main issue was the difficulty in paying the player’s salary from Russia due to sanctions.
Russian soccer player Alexander Golovin could have continued his career in the English Premier League. According to Russian propagandists, Leeds United tried to negotiate the transfer of the 30-year-old midfielder before the transfer window closed. Golovin himself was reportedly ready to move to England. However, in the end, the transfer did not take place. “Golovin was ready to join this team, but the transfer fell through for political reasons,” a source close to Russian propagandists stated.
According to the source, the main problem was the ability to regularly pay the Russian player’s salary. “The main obstacle was the inability to ensure stable salary payments to the Russian player, since English banks currently do not work with individuals or legal entities from Russia,” the source claims.
However, there is currently no independent confirmation of this information. It is also unclear at what stage any potential negotiations between Leeds United and Monaco were and whether the English club made an official transfer offer.
Golovin has been playing for “Monaco” for eight years
Alexander Golovin has been playing for the French club Monaco since 2018. He moved to the club from Moscow’s CSKA after the 2018 World Cup. During this time, the Russian has become one of the French team’s key players. He plays primarily as a central or attacking midfielder.
According to the report, Golovin has played 270 matches for Monaco. He has scored 40 goals and recorded 47 assists. The player’s current contract with the French club runs through the summer of 2029. Therefore, for him to transfer to another team, Monaco would have to agree to the terms of the transfer.
How Much Is Golovin Worth?
Transfermarkt estimates Golovin’s market value. According to the website, it currently stands at around €18 million. Thus, a potential move to Leeds United could mark a new chapter in the player’s career following his long stint in France.
The English Premier League could also have given him the chance to play in one of the world’s most popular soccer leagues for the first time. However, if the reports of negotiations are accurate, the deal never materialized.
Why It’s Harder for Russian Soccer Players to Play in Europe
Following the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian athletes have faced numerous restrictions in international sports. In soccer, Russian clubs and national teams have been barred from international tournaments organized by UEFA and FIFA. At the same time, some Russian soccer players continue to play for European clubs. The mere fact of Russian citizenship does not automatically prohibit a European country from signing a contract with a player.
However, sanctions and restrictions on Russian companies, banks, and financial transactions may create additional problems for such transfers. According to a Russian source, financial difficulties may have been the obstacle preventing Golovin’s move to an English club this time. So far, there has been no official statement from Leeds United or Monaco confirming transfer negotiations or citing the reason for their breakdown.
Therefore, for now, we can only refer to reports from Russian propaganda outlets. If this information is confirmed, sanctions and banking restrictions could indeed have been one of the factors preventing Golovin from leaving Monaco for an English club. For now, the 30-year-old soccer player remains with Monaco, where his contract runs through the summer of 2029. This was reported by Glavkom.
London’s Arsenal and Chelsea will face off on Sunday in a Premier League match. The match will be the first serious test for the defending champions’ defense: Arsenal started the season with two wins without conceding a goal, while Chelsea scored seven goals in two matches but conceded five.
