Armenia international Varazdat Haroyan postpones transfer to Greek side AEL Larissa to defend his country in conflict against Azerbaijan… after call to arms for all citizens under 40
- Varazdat Haroyan was set for a transfer from Russian side Ural to AEL Larissa
- But the 28-year-old has called it off in order to defend his country in conflict
- Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory
- At least 100 people have died after fighting resumed on the ground this week
- USA, France and Russia have called for a ceasefire but Turkey have refused to
Armenia international Varazdat Haroyan has called off a transfer at the eleventh hour in order to defend his country in the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Azerbaijan.
Haroyan, who has played for Russian Premier League side Ural for the past three years, was set to join Greek side AEL Larissa at the beginning of this week.
But Haroyan’s agent explained to his imminent employers that the 28-year-old would not be joining just yet, in order to obey an Armenian call to arms for those under 40 amid a resumption in fighting against Azerbaijan.
Armenia international Varazdat Haroyan has opted to defend his country against Azerbaijan
The 28-year-old was set for a transfer from Russian side Ural to Greek team AEL Larissa
A message sent to Larissa owner Alexis Kouyias by Haroyan’s agent on Tuesday read: ‘Haroyan was mobilised, like all Armenian citizens under 40, and he is already in the war zone.’
Both countries are at war over a disputed territory, in a conflict which has seen years of negotiations not result in a peace treaty.
Battles on the ground between the two countries have restarted in the past week, in Nagorno-Karabakh in the southern Caucasus, with at least 100 people dead.
USA, France and Russia have all condemned the fighting, but Turkey – an ally of Azerbaijan – refused to demand a ceasefire.
An Armenian soldier during hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, which have restarted this week
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war for six years from 1998-1994 over the territory, with Armenia backing the self-declared republic but never recognising it in an official capacity.
Haroyan, meanwhile, has been the stand-in captain of the national team in the absence of star player and former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has not played for Armenia since 2019.
The centre back has 51 caps for his country and amicably terminated his contract with Ural this summer in order to facilitate a move to Greece.
Haroyan (R) has stood-in as captain of Armenia this year in the absence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Roma star and ex-Premier League player Mkhitaryan has not played for his country since 2019
But the move has been postponed for as long as Haroyan decides to defend his country on the frontline.
The 28-year-old has previously played for clubs in both Iran and Armenia during his career.
Armenia are due to face Albania in a friendly, and Georgia and Estonia in the UEFA Nations League during the upcoming international break.
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