Karen Nalbandyan

Karen Nalbandyan's move from Van to Alashkert in the summer of 2025 came as part of a group transfer, when seventeen Van players switched clubs together. He returned to a side he had already represented in 2023–2024, this time as captain from August 2025.

Born in Yerevan, Nalbandyan came through the academy at Banants before moving through a run of Armenian and Russian clubs — Lokomotiv Yerevan, Vista, Noravank, Noah and Van — each transfer completed as a free agent. His most productive spell came at Noravank, where he won the Armenian Cup in 2021–22 and finished third in the league the previous season.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Nalbandyan has shown a habit of finding the net. In the 2025–26 Armenian championship he became the competition's second-highest scorer with 14 goals. His performances for Van also earned him a "Heart of the Month" award from YoHealth.

International recognition arrived late in 2025, when he made his debut for Armenia against Hungary on 13 November. He added a second cap in a friendly against Belarus the following spring, though he has yet to score at senior international level.

At Alashkert, Nalbandyan wears the number 7 shirt and leads the team as captain.