Former defender of the football club Persepolis, Mortez Pouraligandji, has completed his move to Uzbekistan, joining the Pakhtakor club after leaving the Iranian giant as a free agent.
Former defender of the football club Persepolis, Mortez Pouraligandji, has completed his move to Uzbekistan, joining the Pakhtakor club after leaving the Iranian giant as a free agent.
The 34-year-old central defender signed a contract with the Uzbek club until the end of the current year, which marked the end of his last spell at Persepolis. Pouraligandji was without a contract after the expiration of his previous agreement, allowing him to move to the Super League of Uzbekistan team.
Pouraligandji is one of Iran's most experienced defenders and has built an international career spanning over ten years. He has played for several clubs both in Iran and abroad, including Naft Tehran and Persepolis in Iran, as well as Tianjin and Shenzhen in China, Al Sadd and Al Arabi in Qatar, and the Belgian club Eupen.
Internationally, Pouraligandji earned 54 caps for the Iranian national team and scored three goals. He participated with the Iranian national team in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, gaining valuable experience at the highest level of international football.
His arrival brings additional experience to the Pakhtakor squad, which also includes former Persepolis midfielder Bashar Resan. The Iraqi player is already familiar with Iranian football, having successfully played for Persepolis. Pouraligandji now intends to immediately make an impact in Uzbekistan as Pakhtakor strengthens its roster for the remainder of the season.