Nigerian forward Tenton Yenne has described his transfer to the Russian Premier League as a major turning point in his career, expressing confidence in his ability to adapt to increased expectations following his move to Baltika Kaliningrad from Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia.
The 25-year-old arrives in Russia after three impressive seasons in Armenia, where he established himself as one of the league’s most dependable attackers. His spell at Ararat-Armenia produced 43 goals and 17 assists in 94 appearances, earning him the 2023/24 Armenian Premier League Player of the Season award and helping the club to the Armenian Cup title in the 2021/22 season.
Speaking on his relocation, Yenne said the move represents both professional growth and a personal test, noting that the higher standards in Russia have further motivated him.
“Life in Russia is a new beginning filled with higher demands and fresh motivation, and I am determined to achieve my goals with hard work and discipline,” he said.
Yenne attributed his transfer to consistent performances rather than brief spells of form, stressing that reliability over several seasons played a key role in attracting interest from the Russian top flight.
“God has been so good. I think what inspired the transfer was my consistency,” he added.
His record in Armenia supports that claim. He opened his time there with 10 goals and six assists in the 2022/23 season, followed by 16 league goals and seven assists in 32 matches during the 2023/24 campaign. He then maintained that level with 17 goals and four assists in 28 appearances in the 2024/25 season.
Now settling in at Baltika Kaliningrad, Yenne is focused on making an immediate impact as the club targets a strong league finish. Baltika are currently five points off the summit of the Russian Premier League, keeping hopes of European qualification alive.
Having previously featured in the UEFA Europa Conference League with Ararat-Armenia, the striker is keen to return to continental competition and believes Baltika have the ambition to reach Europe.
“We just want to go all the way and play in Europe. I have played in the Conference League before and I definitely want to experience something bigger with Baltika,” he said.
Baltika are set to face second-placed FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the league on February 27, before meeting the same opponents again in the Russian Cup on March 3.
