Iranian football league starts amid transfer market turmoil

The Iranian football federation scheduled the draw for the 26th league season on 6 August, with the first matches set for 23 August. The new campaign follows a controversial previous season that ended with a frozen table and no relegations. Clubs are active in the transfer market despite financial constraints. Persepolis appointed Mehdi Tartar as head coach, bringing four players from Gol‑Gohar and re‑signing veteran Mohammad Mehdi Zare. Notable signings also include striker Abolfazl Jalali, while several long‑time stars such as Alishah and Rafiei have left. Meanwhile, Esteghlal hired Sohrab Bakhtiari‑Zadeh as manager and secured long‑term contracts for youngsters like Bahram Goudarzi and Mohammad Khalif, emphasizing a youth‑focused rebuild.