Bulgarian national player Asparuh Asparuhov is on the verge of making a significant career move with a transfer to the elite Polish PlusLiga. Polish and Bulgarian sources close to the player indicate that for the 2025/2026 season, the outside hitter will strengthen the ranks of Ślepsk Malow Suwałki.
The 24-year-old Asparuhov has experience in strong European championships, including a brief stint in the PlusLiga itself with Szczecin Shipyard at the beginning of his career. He then spent three seasons in the Italian SuperLega with Verona Volley and one with Padova, and for the past two years, he played in the Russian league with Kuzbass Kemerovo.
His future club, Ślepsk Malow Suwałki, finished the 2024/2025 season in 10th place in the final PlusLiga standings. The team achieved 14 wins and 15 losses in 29 matches, accumulating 39 points with a set ratio of 56:63. This result placed the team in the middle of the table, far from the bottom, but also outside the playoff zone for the title.
The upcoming 2025/2026 season will be marked by a significant change in the PlusLiga the number of participating teams will be reduced from 16 to 14. This decision aims to optimize the calendar and reduce the load on players, but at the same time, it means increased competition. In the new league format, every match will have even greater importance, and the fight for survival and a playoff spot will be even fiercer.
Against the backdrop of this intensifying competition, Ślepsk Malow Suwałki is taking serious steps in renewing its squad. The club has already officially announced the departure of seven players after the end of the season: libero Mateusz Czunkiewicz, outside hitters Bartosz Firszt and Paweł Halaba, middle blocker Quentin Jouffroy, setters Marcin Krawiecki and Matías Sánchez, as well as middle blocker Konrad Stajer. Among those leaving are both key players and players with a longer tenure at the club.
The changes also affect some of the team's staff, with the departures of personal development coach Agnieszka Stykowska, statistician Adam Tołoczko, and physical preparation coach Mateusz Zimoch announced. These personnel changes, both among players and staff, emphasize the club's desire for a fresh start and improved performance in the future.
The acquisition of a player with the experience and class of Asparuh Asparuhov seems like a key move in this renewal. He is expected to be one of the team's main outside hitters, most likely partnering with Brazilian Henrique Honorato. His arrival, along with other new additions, will aim to strengthen the squad so that Ślepsk Malow Suwałki can perform more successfully in the smaller and more competitive PlusLiga during the 2025/2026 season. Official confirmation of the transfer is expected within days.
