Want-away Grilled Birds forward Islom Davlatov secured the move his was looking for, as he was picked up by Chinese Division Two club Karamay FC, widely acknowledged as currently the strongest in the Xinjiang region.

Grilled head coach Hovaness Noubaryan hailed this as a win for all sides. "Davlatov returns closer home with more-guaranteed playing time, Karamay FC get a technically outstanding attacker with some top seasons ahead of him - he's still 32 only - and we get to introduce new blood, shore up other positions."

Noubaryan did add that Karamay FC were tough negotiators. "We were looking for at least S$10 million, but they managed to take another half million off that."

This then closes the chapter on Davlatov's ten season plus stay at the Birds, in which he made 160 competitive appearances, scored 85 goals in those, lifted two national Challenger Cups, and was honoured as the club's best player for Season 67.

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