Paris Volley have completed the signing of Andrey Efremov, the 20-year-old Russian middle blocker who came through the Lokomotiv Novosibirsk academy, the club announced on Friday.
The French side, who will be coached by Silvano Prandi from next season, confirmed the arrival of the 2.08m prospect for the 2026-27 campaign, describing him as a player with strong potential who fits the club's ambition to build around the best young European talent.
Efremov, a product of one of Russia's most respected volleyball academies, joins Paris after three standout seasons with Lokomotiv Novosibirsk. He arrives with two consecutive Russian League junior titles (2025 and 2026) on his CV, along with Russian League Cup triumphs in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
The teenager's individual honours underline his rapid development: he was named best middle blocker of the Russian League for the 2025/26 season, as well as best attacker of the competition and best middle blocker of the Russian League Cup.
"Paris Volley is proud to announce the arrival of Andrey Efremov," the club said in its announcement. "Powerful at the net, dominant in counter-attack and with strong potential, Andrey arrives to strengthen the middle blocker department and embodies perfectly the ambition of Paris Volley to focus on the best young European talents."
Efremov becomes one of the first additions of the Prandi era in the French capital. The veteran Italian coach takes charge from the 2026-27 season as Paris Volley look to build a competitive squad for the French Ligue A and European competitions.
The move continues the club's recent recruitment drive, with Paris Volley targeting promising players from across the continent rather than established stars. Efremov will be expected to compete for a starting role in the middle as he adapts to top-level senior volleyball in France.
Sources
