Exclusive: Alen Skribek completes move to Neftçi PFK as transfer terms are revealed

Alen Martin Skribek has already established himself as one of the most exciting forwards in Hungarian football, but now, he's set to confirm those positive sensations in one of the biggest clubs in the South Caucasus: Neftçi PFK.

Born on April 11, 2001, Skribek spent three years at the academy of Hungarian heavyweights Ferencváros before leaving his family at 16 years of age and joining the best academy in the nation: Puskás Akadémia FC. He rose through the youth tiers before testing his skills at second-tier Aqvital FC Csákvár, scoring a brace on his debut and earning praise from the likes of Steve Fletcher. And he had no issues jumping from the Hungarian second-tier to the top-flight, scoring 9 goals and one assist in 30 appearances for Budafoki MTE and impressing both on the right and left flank.

Skribek also impressed at the international level, playing in all three of Hungary’s matches against Germany, Romania, and the Netherlands in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, before enjoying an auspicious loan move to Zalaegerszegi TE FC. This convinced Puskás to give him a chance in the first team, but with his minutes drying up under manager Zsolt Hornyák, Skribek then made the move to Paksi FC in January 2023, where he scored an injury-time equalizer on his debut.

After an unconvincing permanent move with Paksi, where he helped them win their first-ever trophy with the Hungarian Cup, and a quiet loan spell at Diósgyőri VTK which culminated in a horrific leg break, Skribek found himself approaching a make-or-break year. It's why he decided to return to Zalaegerszeg for the 2025/26 season, signing on loan with an obligation to buy.

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Having already played for Hungary at the U16, U17, U18, U19, and U21 levels, as well as three appearances for the senior team in 2021 and 2022, Skribek found himself all but evaporated from the national team picture. And after scoring just six goals in the past four seasons -- as many as his debut campaign in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I -- Skribek knew that it was time to step his game up and get his career back on track.

Skribek had no other choice but to provide for his family and set the standard for his son Liam, who was born in April 2025. “When he was born, something happened with me….I needed to grow up fast at a young age. I had a very good preseason, and now, I’m having the best relationship with a coach that I’ve had in my life," stated Skribek in my interview with him from February.

"He’s given me the minutes, he’s given everything to allow me to play how I want, and he’s found the balance between the tactics and me. Sometimes I play well, sometimes I play poorly, but now, I do everything on one level thanks to the trust of the owners and coach and thanks to my stable environment at home.”

The sequel proved to be better than the original as far as Skribek's ZTE chapter was concerned, with the left winger racking up 11 goals and 6 assists in 34 appearances in 2025/26. He ranked atop the league for big chances created (15) and shots on target per game (1.3), whilst only Barna Tóth and Zsolt Nagy took more shots than him (2.7) per game.

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After losing 3-0 at MTK Budapest in their 2026/27 season opener, ZTE welcomed their home fans back with a ferocious 5-2 demolition of Paks, with Skribek racking up a hat-trick of assists, but they were humbled in their following match, a 5-0 thrashing at Vasas, and they'll be looking to bounce back on August 17 as they host Ferencváros.

Skribek, however, won't be taking part in Monday's match against his boyhood club. Instead, he'll be suiting up for Neftçi PFK, who, after losing to Dinamo Minsk in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, will kick off their domestic season on August 16 at Sumqayıt FK. Neftçi has won six Azerbaijan Cups and two Azerbaijan Supercup titles, and alongside Qarabağ, they are the sole club to have participated in all Azerbaijan Premier League championships so far.

Breaking The Lines can exclusively confirm the details of Skribek's deal: Neftçi have agreed to pay a fee of €900,000, bonuses included, whilst they've also agreed to give ZTE a 15% resale clause. For Skribek, who arrives on a contract through 2028 with the option for an additional year, it is a chance to test his skills outside of Hungary for the first time in his life and reenergize a fallen giant.

Since winning their ninth league title in 2020/21, Neftçi have finished second, third, fifth, sixth and fourth, watching hopelessly as Qarabağ and Sabah have assumed the throne of Azerbaijani football. Now, can Skribek help Neftçi get back to where they belong?