Slovak top-flight side MFK Zemplín Michalovce have announced the permanent signing of Lithuanian striker Gytis Paulauskas. The 25-year-old spent the previous season on loan at Dinamo Batumi in the Georgian top division and now makes the move to Slovakia’s Niké Liga.
Paulauskas shared his thoughts following the transfer: “I heard from my agents that Michalovce were interested in me. I found out the club plays in the top Slovak division, which seems quite interesting. Since I want to keep developing as a footballer, I decided to accept their offer. My goal is to improve in all aspects — on and off the pitch — and to gain new experiences. I’m ready to work hard and help the team with goals,” said Paulauskas after arriving in Michalovce.
Standing just shy of two meters tall, the imposing forward began his professional career with FK Riteriai in Lithuania’s A Lyga, where he scored 13 league goals across nearly three seasons. His breakout campaign came in 2022, when he netted eight goals for Riteriai, attracting international attention.
Following that productive year, Paulauskas signed with Albanian Superliga side KF Egnatia, where he enjoyed immediate success, winning both the Albanian Cup and the league title. His performances earned him a move to Ukrainian Premier League club Kolos Kovalivka for a reported fee of €200,000.
However, his time in Ukraine proved challenging — over 21 league appearances, he scored just one goal. In early 2025, the Lithuanian international was loaned out to Dinamo Batumi in Georgia, where he rediscovered some of his form, registering four goals and two assists in 15 league matches.
After the loan spell ended, Michalovce moved quickly to secure the striker’s services on a permanent basis for a reported transfer fee of 175 000 Euros.
“I’ve never been to Slovakia before, so I’m excited to get to know the country, explore new cities, and learn about a new culture. I know that there are strong teams in the Niké Liga, some of which also compete in European tournaments. I’m looking forward to this new challenge,” added Paulauskas, who has already made 24 appearances and scored 2 goals for the Lithuanian national team.
MFK Zemplín’s sporting director Vladimír Rusnák praised the acquisition:
“After losing multiple attackers, we needed to reinforce this position. We’re very pleased to have reached an agreement with Gytis, who brings valuable experience from the top divisions in both Georgia and Ukraine. On top of that, he’s a national team player. We believe Gytis will settle in quickly, both at our club and in the Niké Liga, and we look forward to celebrating success together.”
While Michalovce have never won a major domestic trophy, their best finish came in the 2018/19 season, when they placed 5th in the league. Last season, they finished 7th, and with the addition of Paulauskas, the club is aiming to climb even higher in the upcoming campaign.
Source: https://mfkzemplin.sk/novou-posilou-litovsky-reprezentant/
