Translated with AI
During the 2026 winter transfer window, three Tajik footballers left Georgian clubs and returned to their homeland. Currently, there are no Tajik players left in the Georgian league, according to Fergana.ru.
Kulob-based football club Ravshan announced the signing of Tajikistan national team defenders Murodali Aknazarov and Mehrubon Karimov. Attacking midfielder Alijoni Aini will continue his career with Dushanbe's Istiklol.
Mehrubon Karimov is a 22-year-old central defender. He began his professional career with Dynamo Dushanbe, after which he continued to play in the Moldovan championship with Dynamo-Auto. In early 2023, he signed a contract with Georgian club Samgurali. In the summer of 2025, the defender transferred to Lokomotiv Tbilisi, a club in the second-tier Georgian championship. However, the team was relegated to the third division at the end of the season.
Karimov is regularly called up to the Tajikistan national team. He has currently played 10 matches for the team.
Murodali Aknazarov is a 21-year-old defender and a product of the Turkish club Antalyaspor. In early 2024, he transferred to Georgian club Samtredia. He played infrequently, but did participate in the team's matches. At the end of the season, the club was relegated to the second division. In 2025, Aknazarov made occasional appearances, but the team failed to regain its place in the top league. The defender played five matches for the Tajikistan national team.
Alijoni Aini is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder and a product of the Lokomotiv-Pamir youth academy. He played for Regar-TadAZ and Istiklol, and also spent some time with Russian club Krasnodar-2. In early 2024, Aini transferred to Georgian club Samgurali. However, a few weeks after the transfer, he suffered a serious injury and was sidelined for a year. Despite this, the player managed to return to his previous level and provided four assists last season.
Alijoni Aini played 16 matches for the Tajikistan national team.
Tajikistan national team midfielder Alisher Shukurov also previously played in the Georgian Championship. However, he failed to establish himself with Dinamo Tbilisi and left the club early last year. He recently signed a contract with Uzbek club Qizilqum Navoi.
Interest in Tajik footballers in Georgia began to emerge following the successful performance of the Tajikistan national team at the 2023 Asian Cup and the arrival of Croatian specialist Petar Segrt, who was assisted by Georgian coach Gela Shekiladze.
