Aleksandr Melikhov

Aleksandr Melikhov's path to regular first-team football ran through a loan spell abroad. After a five-year contract at Akhmat Grozny produced just two league appearances, he moved to Armenia's Urartu in 2022, and there finally became a settled starter, making 71 league appearances.

The early stages of his career were shaped by circumstance as much as form. Melikhov came through the youth ranks at Metallurg Novokuznetsk, making his senior debut there in October 2015. The club withdrew from the Russian Second Division that winter, and he moved on a free transfer to Tom Tomsk, where he spent three seasons and made 46 league appearances. His step up to Akhmat in 2019 did not bring the playing time he had hoped for, and he eventually left.

Melikhov has also represented Russia at under-21 level, winning two caps in 2018 during UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying, though he has not featured for the senior national side. His development was marked early on by a regional honour, being named best goalkeeper of the Kuzbass Championship in 2015 while still with Metallurg's second team.

He returned to Russia in June 2025, joining Arsenal Tula as a free agent. His first season at the club brought six appearances without a clean sheet, and he has played 11 matches this season with two clean sheets to his name.