Zeren SK's massive star exodus is the direct consequence of a multi-billion corporate team refusing to pay its own players.

While the club finished fourth in the Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi and famously defeated European giant Imoco Volley Conegliano (3-2) in a historic CEV Champions League quarterfinal match on March 18, 2026, the sporting success was entirely built on corporate exploitation. 
Backed by the massive Zeren Group holding company, the club withheld wages for nearly the entire year, leaving players and staff with only two months of pay over the entire season.
This blatant negligence caused the roster to completely fracture, with key stars walking out in the middle of the season before the final trophies were even decided:
  • Brankica Mihajlović: The Serbian outside hitter strictly refused to play for free and slammed the door on the club in March 2026, leaving right before the domestic playoffs.
  • Maja Aleksić: The star middle blocker terminated her contract due to the unpaid wages and boycotted the historic return match against Imoco Conegliano to return home to Serbia.
Following these mid-season walkouts, the remaining elite roster jumped ship during the summer transfer window. Here is the full list of departures and their new teams for the upcoming season:
  • Aleksandra Uzelac 🇷🇸 ➔ Eczacıbaşı Dynavit (Turkey)
  • Saliha Åžahin 🇹🇷 ➔ Fenerbahçe Medicana (Turkey)
  • Kübra Akman 🇹🇷 ➔ Fenerbahçe Medicana (Turkey)
  • Beyza Arıcı 🇹🇷 ➔ Türk Hava Yolları SK (Turkey)
  • Anna Lazareva 🇷🇺 ➔ Türk Hava Yolları SK (Turkey)
  • Maja Aleksić 🇷🇸 ➔ Savino Del Bene Scandicci (Italy)
  • Svetlana Gatina 🇷🇺 ➔ Dinamo Moscow (Russia)
  • Janset Cemre Erkul 🇹🇷 ➔ Galatasaray Daikin (Turkey)
  • Eylül KaradaÅŸ 🇹🇷 ➔ Galatasaray Daikin (Turkey)
  • Ofelia Malinov 🇮🇹 ➔ Dentil/Praia Clube (Brazil)
Photos: Zeren SK