Bulgarian national Dimitar Dimitrov is on the verge of parting ways with CSKA just a few weeks after returning to the 'Reds'. According to VolleyWeek, the opposite hitter is leaving today, November 10, for Poland, with his most likely destination being the elite Energa Indykpol AZS Olsztyn.
Information about the Polish club's interest appeared on VolleyTime – Forum Siatkarskie, where Dimitrov was named as the most serious candidate to replace the injured Czech national Jan Hadrava.
The 'Red' club half-heartedly confirmed the information about the Bulgarian national's upcoming departure, but without revealing details about a possible transfer.
The reason for the urgent search for a new opposite hitter in Olsztyn is Jan Hadrava's severe injury. The captain of the Polish team tore his Achilles tendon during the match against Aluron Warta Zawiercie on November 4. A day later, the club officially announced that the Czech would not play again in the 2026/27 season.
Initially, Polish media linked two-time world champion David Konarski with Olsztyn. On November 6, TVP Sport reported, citing two independent sources, that the experienced Polish opposite hitter was among the candidates to replace Hadrava. Subsequently, Dimitrov's name appeared on VolleyTime, and the information about his departure for Poland today further strengthens the likelihood that the Bulgarian will be signed.
Polish regulations allow transfers as early as November
A VolleyWeek check of the regulations of the Polish Professional Volleyball League (PLS), approved in September 2026, shows that the transfer window remains open until January 31, 2027.
According to §53, para. 2 of the regulations, clubs can register new players, including those from foreign leagues, until this date. This means that Dimitrov's potential move to Olsztyn can be carried out through the standard transfer procedure.
The regulations also provide for a special possibility for a medical transfer after the window closes. According to §63a, a club can sign a replacement for a severely injured key player if the injured player has started at least 70% of the matches as a starter and has participated in at least 50% of the games played. The corresponding medical certification is also required.
In Hadrava's case, this procedure would be problematic due to his limited number of appearances since the start of the season. But for a potential signing of Dimitrov in November, Olsztyn does not need such an exception.
For the transfer to take place, the national player's contractual relations with CSKA must be settled, an international transfer certificate must be issued, and the necessary registration in Poland must be completed.
Dimitrov returned to CSKA in October after leaving Greek Aris (Thessaloniki) due to the serious financial and management crisis at the club, and it was clear even then that his stay with the 'Reds' might be temporary.
Currently, the collected information indicates that the Bulgarian national is leaving for Poland, and AZS Olsztyn is his most likely next destination. However, there is no official confirmation of an agreement reached between the interested parties yet. If his move to AZS Olsztyn materializes, Poland will become the fifth country in Dimitrov's foreign career after Italy, France, South Korea, and Greece, and the Bulgarian national will debut in one of the strongest volleyball leagues in the world - the Polish PlusLiga.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov