Where are the Millions? Real Salary of Former Kairat Star Gromyko in Belarus Revealed

The head of the Belarusian club "ML Vitebsk," Artem Leonov, has clarified the financial terms of the contract with former Kairat Almaty midfielder Valeriy Gromyko. Despite rumors of a lucrative deal, the player's income proved to be much more modest and aligns with the pay scale of the team's key leaders.

After leaving Kairat, insiders claimed Gromyko had signed a record-breaking contract for the Belarusian league, with some estimating he could earn up to €1.5 million over three years. However, Leonov dismissed these figures as unrealistic.

Actual Contract Parameters:

•  Monthly Income: Between $10,000 and $15,000.
• Benchmarking: Gromyko's salary is comparable to other key players like Zakhar Volkov and Bassek Diabate.
• Annual Budget: The club's actual expenditure on the player will be approximately $120,000–$180,000 per year, rather than the rumored millions.

The head of "ML Vitebsk" explained that the club intentionally avoids massive pay gaps to maintain a healthy atmosphere within the squad.

"For me, it is a matter of principle that there are no major discrepancies in pay. We cannot pay one player a conditional $2,000 and another $40,000. In such a case, questions would inevitably arise in the locker room. That is why the salaries of many of our players are comparable," Leonov told Onliner.

On January 30, Kairat officially announced Gromyko's departure following the expiration of his contract. During his tenure with the Almaty side, he achieved significant success:

• Two-time Kazakhstan Champion (2024, 2025).
• Kazakhstan Super Cup Winner (2025).
• Performance: 57 matches played, with 22 goal involvements (7 goals + 15 assists).