American volleyball star Matthew Anderson has confirmed to Zenit St. Petersburg that he will not continue his tenure with the team for the 2023/24 season despite an existing contract, as revealed by Russian sports outlet, BO Sport. Dmitry Rezvanov, Anderson’s Russian agent, has stated that this action may incur a hefty $950,000 penalty, either to be paid by the player or his new club. Yet, Luca Novi, Anderson’s European representative, is expected to exploit a political loophole that would enable the volleyball athlete to switch teams without financial penalty.
Matthew Anderson cites family circumstances as his primary reason for leaving Zenit St. Petersburg. However, he isn’t hanging up his jersey or moving back to the US. Instead, Anderson has plans to join Ziraat Bank, the Turkish club from Ankara. Sources suggest that his departure from Zenit is strategically designed to optimize his preparation for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games.
The loss of Anderson leaves Zenit St. Petersburg short-handed and seeking a new outside hitter in the transfer market. On the other hand, Anderson’s move to Ziraat Bank will undoubtedly bolster the Turkish champion’s lineup.
