Turkish giants Halkbank (Ankara) will continue to rely on Matey Kaziyski in the new season. The club officially announced that they have renewed the contract of the Bulgarian star, who will remain one of the team's leaders through the 2026/27 campaign.

Thus, Halkbank will once again have a Bulgarian tandem in its squad. Last season, Kaziyski partnered with Tsvetan Sokolov, who returned to Bulgaria this summer to play for Dea Sport (Burgas). In his place, national player Denislav Bardarov arrived in Ankara, signing with the Turkish club after a strong season with Istanbul BBSK.
The 23-year-old outside hitter is a product of Levski Sofia's youth academy, after which he played for Montana, Istanbul BBSK, Cizre Belediyespor, and Italy's Grottazzolina, before returning to Istanbul BBSK. Bardarov is already part of the Bulgarian national team.
Halkbank also attracted two significant additions for the opposite hitter position. Brazilian national player Darlan Souza, coming from Italy's Verona, and Cuban Alejandro Rodriguez Fuentes, who played in China and Vietnam, are arriving in Ankara. Thus, the Turkish giants will have impressive competition in one of the most crucial positions.
Another new addition is middle blocker Halit Kurtulus, who comes from Fenerbahçe and will strengthen the team's net play.
Parallel to the transfers, the club retained several key players. New contracts were signed by libero Umut Özdemir, young setter Ömercan Burak Karahan, who received a call-up to the extended squad of the Turkish national team this summer, and middle blocker Ahmet Samet Baltacı, who finished last season as the best blocker in the Turkish Efeler Ligi.
The squad selection indicates that Radoslav Stoychev's Halkbank is building a team with championship ambitions in Turkey, once again relying on a significant Bulgarian presence in the form of Matey Kaziyski and Denislav Bardarov.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov