Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Sochi agreed the transfer of 19-year-old midfielder Aleksandr Kovalenko.

Player signed a contract with RPL champions till 2028. Kovalenko is second new player for Zenit after Du Queiroz, whose deal was agreed in winter, but player joined in summer.

Kovalenko started at pro level with Chertanovo in 2021 in Russian second division. In February 2022 midfielder moved to Krylia Sovetov, in June he signed with Sochi, but stayed in Samara on season-loan. In total Kovalenko played for Krylia 35 matches in RPL and scored only goal against Akhmat in August 2022.

During off-season Sochi also parted ways with Soslan Dzhanaev, Ibragim Tsallagov, Joaozinho and Vladislav Sarveli, while Daniil Martovoy was loaned to Volgar Astrakhan.