Scottish Premiership side Falkirk have confirmed the signing of Latvia international Deniss Meļņiks on a two-year-deal, with the defender set to join the club in July following the expiration of his contract with Virslīga side FK Auda.
The 23-year-old still requires formal clearance before the move can be completed and will remain registered with Auda until the end of June. Meļņiks is currently serving a two-match suspension and will miss Auda’s upcoming league fixtures against FS Jelgava and FK Tukums 2000. He could still feature in matches later this month against Super Nova, Grobiņa and Riga FC before departing for Scotland.
Falkirk head coach John McGlynn believes the Latvian international’s versatility and technical qualities make him an ideal fit for the club.
“Deniss can play in a number of positions, he’s a big lad and has 11 caps,” McGlynn said. “He’s good on the ball and will fit our style of play. He’s strong in the air, and he’ll help us at both ends from set-pieces. He can also play in midfield because he has a wide range of passing and can control the middle of the pitch.”
Meļņiks also expressed his excitement about the move.
“I’m delighted to join Falkirk Football Club and grateful for the trust the club has shown in me,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for my career, and I’m excited to meet the fans, work with the team, and give everything to help the club achieve success.”
A graduate of the Riga Football School academy, Meļņiks spent part of his youth career in the system of Italian club Torino before returning to Latvia. He made his Virslīga debut with Spartaks Jūrmala in 2021 and later represented Riga FC before establishing himself at Auda.
Across his Virslīga career, Meļņiks has made 130 top-flight appearances and scored nine goals. He has also earned 11 caps for the Latvian national team.
Falkirk’s rise in recent seasons has been one of the stories of Scottish football. The club were playing in Scotland’s third tier as recently as 2024, but secured back-to-back promotions to return to the Premiership for the first time since 2010. Despite operating with one of the division’s smaller budgets, Falkirk finished sixth in their first season back in the top flight.
Source: https://falkirkfc.co.uk/deniss-melniks-joins-falkirk/
