Hungarian top-flight side MTK Budapest have announced the signing of Lithuanian international defender Vilius Armalas, who joins the club for a transfer fee from Lithuanian vice-champions FC Hegelmann.
The 25-year-old centre-back had been a key figure at Hegelmann since the summer of 2022, when he returned to Lithuania after a stint in Greece and signed with the Kaunas-based club. The past season proved to be the most productive of Armalas’ career: he scored five league goals in 35 matches. He also added two goals in five Lithuanian Cup appearances, helping Hegelmann reach yet another cup final, where they eventually fell to Panevėžys.
In total, Armalas made 143 appearances for FC Hegelmann, scoring 13 goals across all competitions. Upon his departure, the defender addressed the club’s blue-and-white community with an emotional farewell, underlining the importance of his time at Hegelmann:
“I sincerely want to thank everyone – the club, my teammates, the coaches and the fans. FC Hegelmann was a very important stage in my life, where I grew both as a footballer and as a person. Thank you to the blue-and-whites for the trust and support.”
Armalas’ new club, MTK Budapest, is one of the oldest and successful teams in Hungarian football history. Founded in 1888, MTK have won the Hungarian top division 23 times and lifted the Hungarian Cup on 12 occasions. However, the club’s golden era is now in the past, with their most recent league title coming in the 2007/08 season, and several spells in the second division over the last decade.
This season, MTK Budapest have collected 21 points from 18 matches, placing them ninth in the 12-team league. After a relatively solid start to the campaign, the team have struggled for form, failing to win any of their last five league games.
Announcing the signing, MTK described Armalas, who has been in the Portuguese side Benfica academy for some years, as a tall, well-built and quick defender, strong in aerial duels and possessing clear leadership qualities.
Armalas is expected to make his official debut after the Hungarian league’s winter break, when the season resumes in late January, with MTK Budapest set to face Kisvárda away from home.
Source: https://fchegelmann.com/v-armalas-karjera-tes-vengrijoje-fc-hegelmann-uzbaige-dar-viena-reiksminga-sandori/
https://www.mtkbudapest.hu/hu/hirek/valogatott-vedovel-erositettunk
