Albanian Signs for Moscow Club for €11 Million
Mirlind Daku, known for provocations against Serbia, becomes the first Albanian in Spartak's history, sparking fan outrage.
Mirlind Daku, known for provocations against Serbia, becomes the first Albanian in Spartak's history, sparking fan outrage.
Russian football club Spartak Moscow officially completed on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, a transfer that had been causing heated reactions for days. The player in question is Mirlind Daku, Albania's international striker, who was brought in from Rubin Kazan for a fee of €11 million.
Daku has signed a three-year contract with the Moscow giants, making him one of the club's most expensive signings in history. However, his arrival has met with fierce opposition from Spartak fans, who have publicly stated they do not want the Albanian international in their team.
As soon as the first reports of a potential transfer emerged, parts of Moscow were covered in graffiti targeting Daku. The fans' anger stems from events at the 2024 European Championship in Germany. After the match between Albania and Croatia, Daku was at the center of a scandal for chanting offensive slogans against Serbia alongside fans.
Further controversy was sparked by published photos showing his tattoo dedicated to Agim Ramadani, as well as images of him posing with the flag of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Despite the pressure and backlash, Spartak's management did not back down from the deal.
Sources disagree on the exact amount of Daku's salary. Kurir.rs, citing Russian media, reports he will earn €3.75 million net per season, while Dnevno.hr mentions a fixed annual salary of €2.5 million per year. Both sides agree that he received a signing bonus of €1.5 million immediately upon signing. According to Kurir's calculations, his total earnings over the three-year deal would amount to around €12.75 million.
The striker, born in Prilepnica in Kosovo and Metohija, made his name on loan at Balkanija, where he scored 35 goals in 42 matches. He then impressed at Mura with 24 goals in 49 games, after which Osijek sold him to Rubin for €1.2 million. Last season, he scored 15 goals and provided six assists for Rubin, and he opened the new season with two goals in the first two rounds.
Interestingly, Daku was also close to a major transfer in Russia last summer. Zenit showed serious interest, but the deal fell through precisely because of the controversies surrounding him. Although Daku publicly apologized for his actions at the time, it was not enough to complete the transfer. His excellent performances in a Rubin shirt have now earned him the biggest transfer of his career.
