FK Panevėžys have officially announced the signing of a familiar name to Lithuanian football fans, as Joel Bopesu joins the club from Aukštaitija.
The move was confirmed via the Instagram account of the 2025 Lithuanian Cup winners.
Bopesu arrives in Panevėžys after spending a season and a half with Armenian side Pyunik FC. Prior to his time in Armenia, the French left-back enjoyed a successful four-year spell at FK Žalgiris Vilnius, where he established himself as one of the club’s most recognizable and influential players in recent history.
The 31-year-old also has experience in Latvia, having represented Riga FC during the 2019 season.
Bopesu now joins a Panevėžys squad preparing for the 2026 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, while also aiming to challenge for top positions in this season’s A Lyga.
“I am motivated to join Panevėžys because the club, just like FK Žalgiris, sets high goals. The team recently became champions, so that proves the work is being done in the right direction. I always remember our matches against each other as very tough ones. Both teams showed a high level of football, as did the supporters.
The goal for the upcoming season is to become champions. Of course, that can only be achieved through hard work and discipline. I believe we can do it because there is quality here. After a year in Armenia, I am fully motivated to compete, to win, and to achieve big goals. I’ve missed this feeling,” 31-year-old J. Bopesu told the fk-panevezys.lt website.
He becomes FK Panevėžys’ eighth official signing of the current campaign.
