Artem Dzyuba will continue his career at Akron, a Tolyatti club founded in 2018 that joined the Russian Premier League as a new member. The club confirmed the agreement.
A contract was signed with the seasoned former Russia forward through the 2024/25 season. Akron welcomed Dzyuba and wished him success on his new challenge.
It will be a beautiful symbiosis
Former Dynamo forward Dmitry Bulykin, who also played for Lokomotiv and the national team, said the move could benefit both Akron and Dzyuba. He noted that the forward still has motivation to compete at a high level. — Bulykin
Given Dzyuba’s image and popularity, Akron stands to gain exposure as well. Still, Bulykin hopes the forward keeps the desire to play, chase records, and prove himself as he did at Lokomotiv. He expects this to be a fruitful partnership. — Bulykin
The ex-Lokomotiv striker recalled that Dzyuba has played for top clubs and became Russian champion, and his experience should help Akron in the Premier League. — Bulykin
Bulykin also praised the 36-year-old’s ongoing training and readiness to compete. He believes Dzyuba can stay competitive for several more years among the top eight teams in the Russian league. — Bulykin
It is not clear what condition Dzyuba is in
Former Spartak and CSKA player Valery Masalitin admitted he was surprised by the move to Akron. He noted that Dzyuba’s physical condition raises questions. — Masalitin
It is not clear how Dzyuba prepared over the past six months or what form he is in. Akron’s financial situation is not strong, as far as Masalitin knows. — Masalitin
Masalitin said that while Dzyuba has achieved a lot and remains experienced and talented, his current physical condition is a concern. He was surprised by the transfer. — Masalitin
The expert also spoke positively about Akron, noting that the Togliatti side has made a good impression so far. He added that their main rivals in the league will be among the teams at the bottom of the standings. — Masalitin
I was young and handsome too
Former head coach of the Russian national team Boris Ignatiev drew attention to Dzyuba’s age. He said the forward had not been on the field for a long time, making it hard to assess his condition. Still, Ignatiev expressed hope that the new signing could help Akron climb the standings and that bringing in Dzyuba is a good image move for the club. — Ignatiev
“Time will tell whether Artem can help the team. We haven’t seen him in action for a long time. I was once young and handsome, but now I’m just handsome. So it’s hard to say how everything will look. Given Dzyuba’s history with football, I would like to see him remind fans of his best days and deliver strong performances,” Ignatiev said.
The expert also suggested that Akron would likely be the last club in Dzyuba’s career and that he should not be thinking about a move to a bigger team at this stage. — Ignatiev
He played for Spartak, Zenit and Lokomotiv
Artem Dzyuba is a product of Spartak, where he played from 2006 to 2015. He then moved to Zenit, where he became a four-time Russian champion with the club.
After seven seasons with Spartak, Dzyuba transferred to the Turkish club Adana Demirspor in an effort to continue his career abroad, though he mostly sat on the bench. He left the club in search of playing time and joined Lokomotiv, where he remained until the summer of 2024.
He also had loan spells with Tom, Rostov, and Arsenal, and won the National Cup with Rostov. Dzyuba earned 55 caps for Russia, scoring 30 goals and providing 15 assists. He helped the national team reach the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup.
In the 2023/24 season, he appeared in 26 matches, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists. The 36-year-old forward, who became a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv, eventually signed with Akron.
As of seven rounds in the current Russian Championship, Akron sits 14th among 16 teams in the play-off zone, with five points from one win, two draws, and four defeats.