Nikita Baranov

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nikita Baranov

| image = Nikita Baranov (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Baranov with Pyunik in 2022

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tallinn, Estonia

| height = {{height|m=1.84}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Paide Linnameeskond

| clubnumber = 27

| youthyears1 = 2002–2008| youthclubs1 = Puuma

| youthyears2 = 2010| youthclubs2 = Flora

| years1 = 2008 | caps1 = 13 | goals1 = 1 | clubs1 = Ararat

| years2 = 2009 | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | clubs2 = Elva

| years3 = 2009 | caps3 = 33 | goals3 = 2 | clubs3 = Warrior

| years4 = 2010–2013 | caps4 = 45 | goals4 = 7 | clubs4 = Flora II

| years5 = 2010–2016 | caps5 = 159 | goals5 = 4 | clubs5 = Flora

| years6 = 2017–2018 | caps6 = 33 | goals6 = 0 | clubs6 = Kristiansund

| years7 = 2018 | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = Sogndal

| years8 = 2019 | caps8 = 16 | goals8 = 0 | clubs8 = Beroe

| years9 = 2019–2020 | caps9 = 21 | goals9 = 0 | clubs9 = Alashkert

| years10= 2020–2021 | caps10= 23 | goals10= 0 | clubs10 = Karmiotissa

| years11= 2021 | caps11= 0 | goals11= 0 | clubs11 = Ħamrun Spartans

| years12= 2021–2023 | caps12= 41 | goals12= 2 | clubs12 = Pyunik

| years13= 2024– | caps13= 36 | goals13= 2 | clubs13 = Paide Linnameeskond

| pcupdate = 30 April 2025

| nationalyears1 = 2009 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalteam1 = Estonia U18

| nationalyears2 = 2010–2011| nationalcaps2 = 14 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalteam2 = Estonia U19

| nationalyears3 = 2012–2014| nationalcaps3 = 14 | nationalgoals3 = 1| nationalteam3 = Estonia U21

| nationalyears4 = 2012–2015| nationalcaps4 = 3| nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalteam4 = Estonia U23

| nationalyears5 = 2015–| nationalcaps5 = 45| nationalgoals5 = 0 | nationalteam5 = Estonia

| ntupdate = 21 December 2022

}}

Nikita Baranov (born 19 August 1992) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Meistriliiga club Paide Linnameeskond and the Estonia national team.

Club career

=Early career=

Baranov began playing football with Puuma's youth teams. He then played for Ararat, Elva and Warrior.

=Flora=

In 2010, Baranov signed for Flora. He made his Flora – and Meistriliiga – debut on 14 August 2010, in a 5–0 home victory over Lootus. He won his first Meistriliiga title in the 2011 season, and his second one in the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.err.ee/386551/flora-alistas-viljandi-ja-tuli-jalgpallis-eesti-meistriks|title=Flora alistas Viljandi ja tuli jalgpallis Eesti meistriks|trans-title=Flora defeated Viljandi and became Estonian football champions|publisher=ERR|date=1 November 2011|language=Estonian}}{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/3374109/fc-flora-tuli-kumnendat-korda-eesti-meistriks|title=FC Flora tuli kümnendat korda Eesti meistriks|trans-title=FC Flora became Estonian champions for the 10th time|work=Postimees|date=24 October 2015|language=Estonian}}

=Kristiansund=

On 15 February 2017, Baranov signed a two-year contract with Eliteserien club Kristiansund.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/242948/eesti-jalgpallikoondislane-solmis-lepingu-norra-korgliigaklubiga|title=Eesti jalgpallikoondislane sõlmis lepingu Norra kõrgliigaklubiga|trans-title=Estonian international signed a contract with Norwegian top flight club|publisher=ERR Sport|date=15 February 2017|language=Estonian}}

=Sogndal=

On 26 July 2018, Baranov signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with OBOS-ligaen club Sogndal.{{cite web|url=https://sport.err.ee/849391/eesti-koondislane-siirdus-norras-aste-madalamale|title=Eesti koondislane siirdus Norras aste madalamale|trans-title=Estonian international moved a level lower in Norway|publisher=ERR Sport|date=26 July 2018|language=Estonian}}

=Beroe=

Baranov joined Beroe in January 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=765893|title=Берое подписа с естонски национал|trans-title=Beroe has signed a contract with a member of the Estonia national team|publisher=sportal.bg|date=16 January 2019|accessdate=23 November 2019|language=Bulgarian}} but was released in early August 2019.{{cite web|url=https://topsport.bg/beroe/ofitsialno-beroe-se-razdeli-s-baranov.html|title=Официално: Берое се раздели с Баранов|trans-title=It's now official: Beroe has parted ways with Baranov|publisher=topsport.bg|date=2 August 2019|accessdate=23 November 2019|language=Bulgarian}}

=Alashkert=

Baranov joined Armenian club FC Alashkert in August 2019 with a one-year deal.{{Cite web|url=https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/ametlik-baranov-leidis-uue-koduklubi|title=Ametlik: Baranov leidis uue koduklubi|first=Meinhard|last=Pulk|date=August 25, 2019|website=Soccernet.ee}} On 27 July 2020, his contract was ended by mutual consent.{{cite web |title=Ալաշկերտի նախապատրաստական ծրագրերը |url=http://fcalashkert.am/%D5%A1%D5%AC%D5%A1%D5%B7%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%BF%D5%AB-%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%AD%D5%A1%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BF%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%BD%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%AE%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D6%80%D5%A5%D6%80-3/ |website=fcalashkert.am |publisher=FC Alashkert |accessdate=27 July 2020 |language=Armenian |date=27 July 2020}}

=Karmiotissa=

On 20 August 2020 he signed Cypriot top-division club Karmiotissa and debuted a day later.{{Cite web|url=https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/pomm-baranov-siirdus-kuprosele-ja-debuteeris-apoel-i-vastu|title=Pomm! Baranov siirdus Küprosele ja debüteeris APOEL-i vastu (Baranovi kommentaar!)|first=Rasmus|last=Voolaid|date=21 August 2020|website=Soccernet.ee}}

=Hamrun Spartans=

In May 2021 he signed for Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans.

International career

Baranov made his senior international debut for Estonia on 11 November 2015, in a 3–0 home victory over Georgia in a friendly.{{cite web |url=http://jalgpall.ee/koondis/uudised/eesti-alistas-maavoistlusmangus-gruusia-30-n8973|title=Eesti alistas maavõistlusmängus Gruusia 3:0|trans-title=Estonia defeated Georgia 3–0 in a friendly|publisher=Estonian Football Association|date=11 November 2015|language=Estonian}}