# 2020–21 Neftçi PFK season

The Neftçi 2020–21 season was Neftchi Baku's 29th Azerbaijan Premier League season. Neftchi will compete in the Azerbaijan Premier League and in the Azerbaijan Cup and Europa League.

## Season overview

On 20 June, Jabir Amirli joined Neftçi from Keşla on a two-year contract.
On 8 July, Neftçi signed a new contract with Rahman Hajiyev until the summer of 2022, whilst also loaning him out to Keşla for the 2020–21 season.
On 10 July, Neftçi signed a new two-year contract with Agil Mammadov.
On 16 July, Neftçi announced the signing of Yusuf Lawal from Lokeren on a two-year contract, with the option of a third. Two days later, 18 July Sabir Bougrine joined Neftçi from F91 Dudelange on a two-year contract.
On 21 July, Turan Valizade moved on loan to Keşla for the season. The following day Rener Pavão joined Neftçi from Fortaleza on a two-year contract with the option of an additional year.
On 24 July, Neftçi announced the signing of Thallyson to a two-year contract.
On 28 July, Neftçi extended their contract with Namik Alaskarov for an additional year.
On 11 September, Neftçi announced the signing of Prince Ibara on a one-year loan deal from Beerschot.
On 19 September, Neftçi announced the signing of Mert Çelik on two-year long loan deal from İstanbul Başakşehir.
On 15 October, Neftçi signed Bruno Telushi from Kukësi on a contract until the end of the season.
On 26 December, Neftçi announced that Prince Ibara's loan from Beerschot had ended by mutual agreement.
On 4 January, Jabir Amirli joined Sumgayit on loan for the remainder of the season.
On 9 February, Neftçi announced the signing of Ahmed Ahmedov on loan from CSKA Sofia.
On 14 March, Neftçi announced that they had terminated the contract of Saman Nariman Jahan by mutual consent. The following day, Neftçi announced the signing of Keisuke Honda on a contract until the end of the season.

## Squad

    As of match played 19 May 2021
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Salahat Aghayev | GK | (1991-01-04)4 January 1991 (aged 30) | Inter Baku | 2017 | 2021 | 70 | 0 |
| 12 | Kamran Ibrahimov | GK | (1999-06-07)7 June 1999 (aged 21) | Academy | 2015 | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Agil Mammadov | GK | (1989-05-01)1 May 1989 (aged 32) | Gabala | 2019 | 2022 | 86 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Mamadou Mbodj | DF | (1993-03-12)12 March 1993 (aged 28) | Žalgiris | 2019 | 2021 | 54 | 8 |
| 5 | Anton Krivotsyuk | DF | (1998-08-20)20 August 1998 (aged 22) | Academy | 2016 | 2021 | 105 | 10 |
| 6 | Vojislav Stanković | DF | (1987-09-22)22 September 1987 (aged 33) | Gabala | 2019 | 2021 | 53 | 3 |
| 26 | Omar Buludov | DF | (1998-12-15)15 December 1998 (aged 22) | Academy | 2016 | 2021 | 74 | 3 |
| 40 | Vugar Hasanov | DF | (1997-12-05)5 December 1997 (aged 23) | Keşla | 2019 | | 0 | 0 |
| 49 | Rener Pavão | DF | (2001-03-18)18 March 2001 (aged 20) | Fortaleza | 2020 | 2022 (+1) | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Elchin Asadov | DF | (1999-08-03)3 August 1999 (aged 21) | Academy | 2016 | | 0 | 0 |
| 56 | Elton Alibayli | DF | (2000-02-04)4 February 2000 (aged 21) | Academy | 2019 | | 1 | 0 |
| 91 | Thallyson | DF | (1991-12-01)1 December 1991 (aged 29) | Guarani | 2020 | 2022 | 22 | 0 |
| | Elvin Sarkarov | DF | (1997-02-24)24 February 1997 (aged 24) | Academy | 2016 | | 6 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Keisuke Honda | DF | (1986-06-13)13 June 1986 (aged 34) | Unattached | 2021 | 2021 | 7 | 2 |
| 7 | Namik Alaskarov | MF | (1995-02-03)3 February 1995 (aged 26) | Qarabağ | 2017 | 2022 | 124 | 31 |
| 8 | Emin Mahmudov | MF | (1992-04-27)27 April 1992 (aged 29) | Boavista | 2017 | 2023 | 107 | 21 |
| 17 | Bruno Telushi | MF | (1990-11-14)14 November 1990 (aged 30) | Kukësi | 2020 | 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 19 | Fahmin Muradbayli | MF | (1996-03-16)16 March 1996 (aged 25) | Academy | 2013 | | 86 | 6 |
| 20 | Mert Çelik | MF | (2000-06-10)10 June 2000 (aged 20) | loan from İstanbul Başakşehir | 2020 | 2022 | 12 | 1 |
| 24 | Yusuf Lawal | MF | (1998-03-23)23 March 1998 (aged 23) | Lokeren | 2020 | 2022 (+1) | 26 | 2 |
| 27 | Farid Yusifli | MF | (2002-02-20)20 February 2002 (aged 19) | Academy | 2019 | | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Sabir Bougrine | MF | (1996-07-10)10 July 1996 (aged 24) | F91 Dudelange | 2020 | 2022 | 29 | 4 |
| 36 | Mamadou Kane | MF | (1997-01-22)22 January 1997 (aged 24) | Kaloum Star | 2019 | 2021 | 61 | 0 |
| 37 | Vusal Asgarov | MF | (2001-08-23)23 August 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | 2018 | | 1 | 0 |
| 70 | Asim Alizada | MF | (2000-02-05)5 February 2000 (aged 21) | Academy | 2020 | | 1 | 0 |
| 72 | Emin Zamanov | MF | (1997-12-26)26 December 1997 (aged 23) | Academy | 2019 | | 2 | 0 |
| 80 | Ismayil Zulfugarli | MF | (2001-04-16)16 April 2001 (aged 20) | Academy | 2019 | | 7 | 1 |
| | Elnur Suleymanov | MF | (1996-09-17)17 September 1996 (aged 24) | Shuvalan | 2017 | | 1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Ahmed Ahmedov | FW | (1995-03-04)4 March 1995 (aged 26) | loan from CSKA Sofia | 2021 | 2021 | 9 | 1 |
| 22 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | FW | (1995-04-27)27 April 1995 (aged 26) | Sumgayit | 2017 | 2021 | 96 | 20 |
| 28 | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | FW | (1990-07-20)20 July 1990 (aged 30) | Gabala | 2019 | 2021 | 44 | 12 |
| 55 | Ibrahim Aliyev | FW | (1999-07-17)17 July 1999 (aged 21) | Sumgayit | 2020 | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Away on loan ||||||||||
| 2 | Jabir Amirli | DF | (1997-01-06)6 January 1997 (aged 24) | Keşla | 2020 | 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | Rahman Hajiyev | MF | (1993-07-25)25 July 1993 (aged 27) | Baku | 2014 | 2022 | 166 | 16 |
| 33 | Turan Valizade | MF | (2001-01-01)1 January 2001 (aged 20) | Fenerbahçe | 2019 | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 10 | Saman Nariman Jahan | MF | (1991-04-18)18 April 1991 (aged 30) | Machine Sazi | 2020 | 2021 | 22 | 1 |
| 13 | Prince Ibara | FW | (1996-02-07)7 February 1996 (aged 25) | loan from Beerschot | 2020 | 2021 | 8 | 1 |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | AZE | Jabir Amirli (at Sumgayit) |
| 17 | MF | AZE | Rahman Hajiyev (at Keşla) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 33 | MF | AZE | Turan Valizade (at Keşla) |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 20 June 2020 | DF | Jabir Amirli | Keşla | Undisclosed |
| 16 July 2020 | MF | Yusuf Lawal | Lokeren | Undisclosed |
| 18 July 2020 | MF | Sabir Bougrine | F91 Dudelange | Undisclosed |
| 22 July 2020 | DF | Rener Pavão | Fortaleza | Undisclosed |
| 24 July 2020 | DF | Thallyson | Guarani | Undisclosed |
| 15 October 2020 | MF | Bruno Telushi | Kukësi | Undisclosed |
| 15 March 2021 | MF | Keisuke Honda | Unattached | Free |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| 11 September 2020 | FW | Prince Ibara | Beerschot | 26 December 2020 |
| 19 September 2020 | MF | Mert Çelik | İstanbul Başakşehir | End of 2021/22 season |
| 9 February 2021 | FW | Ahmed Ahmedov | CSKA Sofia | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| 8 July 2020 | MF | Rahman Hajiyev | Keşla | End of season |
| 21 July 2020 | MF | Turan Valizade | Keşla | End of season |
| 4 January 2021 | DF | Jabir Amirli | Sumgayit | End of season |

### Released

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | Joined | Date | Ref. |
| 10 July 2020 | FW | | Dário | Riga FC | 23 July 2020 | |
| 14 March 2021 | MF | | Saman Nariman Jahan | Tractor | | |

## Competitions
### Premier League
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 19 May 2021. Source: See Results

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Ground | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | A | A | H |
| Result | W | L | W | D | L | W | W | D | L | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | W | W | W | W |
| Position | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Neftçi Baku (C) | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 25 | +22 | 59 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Qarabağ | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 64 | 18 | +46 | 57 | Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Sumgayit | 28 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 30 | 31 | −1 | 39 | Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Zira | 28 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 38 | |
| 5 | Sabah | 28 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 38 | −10 | 29 | |

### UEFA Europa League
#### Qualifying rounds
## Squad statistics

    As of Match played 19 May 2021

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Salahat Aghayev | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SEN | Mamadou Mbodj | 27 | 1 | 21+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | MF | JPN | Keisuke Honda | 7 | 2 | 6+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Anton Krivotsyuk | 25 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | SRB | Vojislav Stanković | 31 | 3 | 25+2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | AZE | Namik Alaskarov | 30 | 19 | 26 | 19 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Emin Mahmudov | 27 | 4 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | BUL | Ahmed Ahmedov | 9 | 1 | 2+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ALB | Bruno Telushi | 9 | 0 | 6+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | AZE | Fahmin Muradbayli | 13 | 0 | 5+7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | AZE | Mert Çelik | 12 | 1 | 10+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | AZE | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 27 | 6 | 14+9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | NGA | Yusuf Lawal | 26 | 2 | 23+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | AZE | Omar Buludov | 24 | 1 | 20+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | AZE | Farid Yusifli | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | FRA | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 17 | 2 | 8+7 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | MAR | Sabir Bougrine | 29 | 4 | 21+4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 30 | GK | AZE | Agil Mammadov | 29 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | GUI | Mamadou Kane | 29 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | AZE | Vusal Asgarov | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 56 | DF | AZE | Elton Alibayli | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | MF | AZE | Asim Alizada | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 72 | MF | AZE | Emin Zamanov | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | MF | AZE | Ismayil Zulfugarli | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 91 | DF | BRA | Thallyson | 22 | 0 | 16+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | AZE | Jabir Amirli | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who left Neftçi during the season: ||||||||||||
| 10 | MF | IRN | Saman Nariman Jahan | 16 | 0 | 4+9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | CGO | Prince Ibara | 8 | 1 | 2+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | MF | 7 | Namik Alaskarov | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2 | FW | 22 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | MF | 8 | Emin Mahmudov | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | MF | 29 | Sabir Bougrine | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | DF | 6 | Vojislav Stanković | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | DF | 5 | Anton Krivotsyuk | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | FW | 28 | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | 24 | Yusuf Lawal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | 4 | Keisuke Honda | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FW | 13 | Prince Ibara | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 26 | Omar Buludov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 20 | Mert Çelik | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | 9 | Ahmed Ahmedov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 3 | Mamadou Mbodj | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 47 | 0 | 3 | 50 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | GK | 30 | Agil Mammadov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | GK | 1 | Salahat Aghayev | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Europa League | Total | Total |
| 3 | DF | Mamadou Mbodj | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Keisuke Honda | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Anton Krivotsyuk | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Vojislav Stanković | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Namik Alaskarov | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Emin Mahmudov | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Ahmed Ahmedov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Bruno Telushi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Mert Çelik | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Yusuf Lawal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | Omar Buludov | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 28 | FW | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | Sabir Bougrine | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | Agil Mammadov | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | Mamadou Kane | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| 91 | DF | Thallyson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Players who left Neftçi during the season: ||||||||||||
| 13 | FW | Prince Ibara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 76 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 88 | 5 |