Luca and Diego Cantagalli
ITALY
An 18-year-old Diego Cantagalli, a son of Luca Cantagalli who was a two-time FIVB World Championship and three-time CEV European Championship winner with Italy national team, will join the 2018/19 roster of Cucine Lube Civitanova. The opposite was a member of Lube youth categories until 2014 while he spent the last season in Club Italia Crai Roma playing Division 2. But, according to media in Italy, Lube cannot allow themselves to rely only on Cantagalli when it comes to the opposite position in the next season. So, the current SuperLega runners-up aim for Iranian Amir Ghafour from Saipa Tehran as a replacement for injured Tsvetan Sokolov in the lineup.
A 27-year-old outside hitter Filippo Vedovotto extended his deal with Emma Villas Siena and will wear the jersey of the club that earned a promotion to SuperLega for the third season in a row.
So far, it’s only a rumor but it seems that Azimut Modena are interested in hiring Germany national team outside hitter Denis Kaliberda who parted ways with Ziraat Bankası, Turkey.
BCC Castellana Grotte formalized the hiring of a 28-year-old Brazilian opposite Renan Buiatti who returned to playing in Italy after two seasons which he spent in his home country competing for Sada Cruzeiro, Juiz de Fora, and Sesc-RJ. He was summoned for Brazil national team preliminary list in 2018. After parting ways with Renan’s compatriots Bruno Canuto and Djalma Moreira, and Pole Miłosz Hebda, all outside hitters, Castellana Grotte had to start covering this position for the next season. They made the first step by signing another Pole, a 27-year-old Wojciech Włodarczyk from ONICO Warszawa.
Gi Group Monza engaged setter Tomasz Calligaro who will play his first season in SuperLega, the fifth overall in the club whose jersey he has worn in youth categories. A 25-year-old Polish-born player came to Monza from Division 3 side Pallavolo Ciriè Valle di Lanzo.
Marck-Espejo
JAPAN
The most popular Philippine player Marck Espejo made a decision to go to play abroad to gain more professional experience. A 21-year-old outside hitter, five-time MVP of the Philippine collegiate championship UAAP, has joined Japanese Division 2 side (V.Challenge League) Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler. Espejo highlighted Ateneo Blue Eagles this season to become the best scorer of the tournament but his team surrendered three-year domination as it was beaten by National University Bulldogs in the finals. Check out some of Espejo’s stunning moves this season.
TURKEY
The Turkish Efeler Ligi newcomers Arhavi Bld. engaged the 2018 CEV Cup winner Ian Iereshchenko. A 28-year-old Ukrainian outside hitter came to Arhavi from the Russian powerhouse Belogorie Belgorod. Arhavi also signed Mehmet Özbek, last season’s libero of Jeopark Kula Bld.
Farhad-Ghaemi
Iranian media reported that country’s national team outside hitter Farhad Ghaemi has joined Ziraat Bankası. A 28-year-old player who won two national titles in a row with Sarmayeh Bank signed a one-year contract with Efeler Ligi side.
İstanbul BBSK extended the contract with their opposite Serhat Coşkun for one more season. A 31-year-old-player made 38% average attack in 26 league games.
A 27-year-old opposite Ufuk Minici will stay in Galatasaray HDI Sigorta in 2018/19 as well.
POLAND
One of the major transfer rumors these days is about the famous Bulgarian expert Radostin Stoytchev. According to Italian media, “Rado” is close to signing with Polish Plus Liga side Stocznia Szczecin, who also aim for three big stars for the next season!
Zaksa Kędzierzyn-Koźle added a new setter to their roster for the next season. A 24-year-old Przemysław Stępień replaced Italian Marco Falaschi, coming from Dafi Społem Kielce. He signed a two-year contract with the current Plus Liga runners-up.
ONICO Warszawa signed a one-year contract with the outside hitter Piotr Łukasik. He was a distinguished player in BBTS Bielsko-Biała in 2017/18, scoring 362 points in 28 Plus Liga games.
Cuprum Lubin announced the hiring of a 28-year-old middle blocker Damian Boruch. He wore the jersey of Jastrzębski Węgiel in the last three seasons.
Leonardo-Leyva
CHINA
The 2017/18 Chinese Super League runners-up Beijing have formed a foreign duo for the next season. According to our sources, the Cuban bomber Leonardo Leyva agreed to terms with the club from the capital of China and will occupy the place of the second foreign player along with the Frenchman Kévin Tillie who extended his contract. Leyva is familiar with playing in China as he wore the jersey of Sichuan in the last two seasons.
See our sections – Transfers – Done Deals and Transfers – Rumors.
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