Lokomotiv Avia continues to build its squad for the 2026/27 season, announcing that middle blocker Ivaylo Damyanov will remain with the Plovdiv club for the new campaign.
The 23-year-old volleyball player is 203 cm tall and has been part of Lokomotiv Avia since the 2024/25 season, having previously played for Marek Union-Ivkooni.
This year, Damyanov was included in the extended squad of the Bulgarian men's national team. However, he subsequently did not join the national team's training, and the reason for this remains officially unexplained to this day. Initially, there were reports that his absence was due to family reasons, but so far, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has not provided any further clarification on the matter.
With this, Lokomotiv Avia continues to retain its core group of players after a successful past season. So far, the club has confirmed that national team player Alex Nikolov, outside hitter Julien Georgiev, who is set for his third consecutive season with the black-and-white kit, and libero Martin Ivanov – one of the team's leaders – will remain with the team.
The Plovdiv club has also presented its first new signing – experienced setter Dobromir Dimitrov. The Bulgarian international has a rich international career, participation in the Olympic Games, and is expected to bring significant experience to Lokomotiv Avia's squad.
In the coming days, the club is expected to continue presenting its squad for the new season, with both more remaining players and new signings to be announced.