Rumors about Artem Dziuba’s wages swirled around Moscow Lokomotiv after the club confirmed the deal with the striker. Various reports pegged the monthly salary at either 2.5 million or as much as 4 million rubles, sparking debate among fans and analysts alike.
From the club’s perspective, the move was driven by a desire to add a proven forward who could make an immediate impact. The decision wasn’t driven by money alone. Dziuba’s transfer was positioned as a strategic choice aimed at strengthening the squad, securing a place in the Russian Premier League, and delivering meaningful goals for the team. The club’s director stated that the financial terms represented only a fraction of the overall objective, emphasizing performance and results as the primary drivers behind the signing.
On February 8, the forward signed a contract with Lokomotiv through the end of the season. Following the public confirmation of the transfer, a banner with vulgar language appeared near the home stadium, directed at Dziuba. In Lokomotiv’s final league round, the striker delivered a hat-trick against Rostov, marking a strong competitive start to his tenure.
Before joining Lokomotiv, Dziuba spent several months without a club striker. He had been with Adana Demirspor in Turkey since August 2022, but the contract with the Turkish side was terminated on November 3. In total, the forward appeared in four matches for Adana, without a start, before moving to Lokomotiv.
There was also speculation about whether former football executive Alexander Mirzoyan had suggested a future invitation for Dziuba to the Russian national team, particularly in discussions around coaching plans and potential selection. The topic highlighted the broader interest in how national team coaches evaluate veteran forwards in the current football landscape.