January Transfer Market round-up

by Ayrton Galea - 1st February 2016

The January Transfer Market has come to an end just a few hours ago. Birkirkara FC was undoubtedly the busiest club locally, by signing no less than nine players.

Our Club brought in nine new players, out of which seven were foreigners, with the other two being Maltese. One foreigner was transferred from another Maltese club, while the other six are all new to Maltese football.

#1: Edison Bilbao

Edison Bilbao joined our Club from Balzan FC as part of the deal that saw midfielder Paul Fenech move in the other direction. Edison who is from Chile, plays as a midfielder and he joined our Club on Monday, 4 January. The advanced midfielder signed a two and a half years contract with our Club and he made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Qormi which was played on Sunday, 10 January.

#2: Mislav Andelkovic

Croatian Mislav Andelkovic joined our Club on Thursday, 7 January. The towering midfielder, who is already leaving his mark thanks to his excellent vision in the heart of midfield, signed a one and a half year contract with our Club and he made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Valletta in the Quarter Final of the FA Trophy, which was played on Wednesday, 20 January.

#3: Miroslav Kopric

Miroslav Kopric is undoubtedly one of the newcomers that have left a very good impression. With just one goal conceded, from a penalty kick, from four matches so far, the Croatian goalkeeper is being rated among the best signings locally. He joined our Club on Monday, 11 January and he signed a one and a half year contract. He made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Valletta in the Quarter Final of the FA Trophy.

#4: Matthew Guillaumier

Rated as one of Malta's best young talents, Matthew Guillaumier signed a five year contract with our Club on Monday, 11 January. He was the first Maltese player to join our Club during this transfer market. The hard-working midfielder made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Valletta in the Quarter Final of the FA Trophy when he was included as a substitute late in the match.

#5: Christian Bubalovic

The towering 191cm central-defender continued to strengthen the defence department when he signed a one and a half year contract on Sunday, 17 January. The Austrian defender made his debut on the 23 January in the 2-0 victory over Sliema Wanderers. He left a good impression, especially thanks to his physique and his winning rate of high balls.

#6: Goran Mujanovic

Utility player Goran Mujanovic who can play as a right-back or on the right-wing is also another player who is leaving a good impression in his first adventure in Malta. The Croatian fast player joined our Club on Sunday, 17 January and made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Valletta in the Quarter Final of the FA Trophy.

#7: Ryan Darmanin

Opportunistic forward Ryan Darmanin was the second Maltese player to join our Club in this transfer market. He joined our Club on a free-transfer on Tuesday, 26 January and he signed a one and a half year contract. He made his debut in yesterday's goal-less draw against Floriana, where he was included as a substitute twenty minutes inside the second half.

#8: Matija Smrekar

Matija Smrekar, who is best known as a central opportunistic striker, joined our Club on Thursday, 28 January, and he signed a one and a half year contract. He is line to make his debut in next Saturday's match against Balzan.

#9: L'Imam Seydi

L'Imam Seydi, best described as a fast and a powerful striker, who can also play on the wing, joined our Club on Friday, 29 January, and he signed a one and a half year contract. Like Smrekar, could also make his debut in next Saturday's match against Balzan.

On the other hand, the Club parted ways with eighth players during this January transfer market. This followed the permanent retirement from football as a player of Fabrizio Miccoli in mid-December. The famous Italian player, undoubtedly one of the greatest that has ever wore our shirt, will be undoubtedly be remembered for his part in the historic victory over West Ham United in the second leg of the second qualifying round, when his goal gave the Stripes a memorable victory, despite still being eliminated after the penalty shoot-out. During his spell with our Club, he made a total of eighteen appearances for the Stripes, and he scored ten goals.

#1: Paul Fenech

Paul Fenech was the first player to leave this Club during this Transfer Market as he joined Balzan on the 4 January, as part of a swap deal with Edison Bilbao. During his nine-year adventure with our Club, he had 231 appearances in the BOV Premier League and he scored twenty-four goals. He won two BOV Premier League titles, two FA Trophies, two Super Cups and once the Euro Challenge Cup, while he won the MFA Best Player of the Year in 2013.

#2: Zach Muscat

Zach Muscat made the next step in his football career, when he joined the Italian Lega Pro side, SS Akragas on the 5 January. Zach joined our Club in the 2012 Summer Transfer Market and during his three and a half years with our Club, He made 120 appearances with our Club and scored nine goals, while he won twice the BOV Player of the Match.

#3: Juan Quero

The offensive player, Juan Quero, struggled to find a regular place with the team and he was released on the 7 January. He made eleven appearances in which only two were from the start. During his term with our Club he scored two goals, one in the BOV Premier League and one in the FA Trophy.

#4: Shola Shodiya

Nigerian forward Shola Shodiya was released on the 9 January. Following a long term injury, Shola was yet to make his first appearance in a match this season. Shola joined our Club in the 2011 Summer Transfer Market and during his four and a half year spell with our Club, he made 118 appearances and scored 42 goals while he was voted the BOV Player of the Month in February 2013.

#5: Ellinton Morais

Birkirkara FC reached an agreement with Brazilian forward Ellinton Morais to terminate his contract, following the player's request on the 10 January. Ellinton joined our Club in the 2014 Summer Transfer Market and with our Club he made forty-five appearances, and scored nineteen goals.

#6: Rowen Muscat

On the 22 January, Birkirkara FC's Youth Academy product, Rowen Muscat, once again tried his luck abroad, when he has joined Italian Lega Pro side, AC Pavia on loan till the end of the season, with a possibility for a permanent move in the next season.

#7: Emerson Marcelina

Birkirkara FC reached an agreement with Floriana FC over the loan of Emerson Marcellina till the end of the season on the 24 January. Emerson joined Birkirkara FC in the Summer Transfer Market 2015 and he took part in 17 matches, 12 of which he was in the starting eleven.

#8: Justin Haber

Goalkeeper Justin Haber moved to Hibernians FC to bring to an end the second spell of three years with our Club. Following a first successful spell from 2002 to 2005, Haber rejoined our Club on the 18 January 2013 and during this three year spell, he won the BOV Premier League, the FA Trophy and twice the BOV Super Cup. In this period he made a total of 103 appearances in all competitions.

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