Nikita Haikin

Nikita Ilyich Haikin (, ; born 11 July 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eliteserien club Bodø/Glimt. Born in Israel, he also grew up as in the United Kingdom, and later gained Norwegian citizenship, although represented only Russia at youth level.

Early life Haikin was born in Netanya, Israel, to a family who emigrated from Russia to Israel. His father Ilya is a businessman. In 1997, as a two-year-old baby, his family moved back with him to Moscow, Russia.

Club career Aged seven, Haikin began his youth career at FSHM Torpedo-Moscow. Nikita was also a part of Dinamo Moscow academy before moving to England.

In September 2013, Haikin went on trial with Reading following his release from Chelsea. Haikin made his professional debut in the Israeli Premier League for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv on 25 February 2017 in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He then ran out of the contract and joined Hapoel Kfar Saba for one season.

In March 2019 he signed a contract with Eliteserien club Bodø/Glimt with whom Nikita became a silver medalist in his first season and won, in two consecutive seasons, the Norwegian League championship in 2020 and 2021. Haikin played in the UEFA Europa League where Bodø/Glimt played the likes of Milan at San Siro, AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, and Celtic F.C. at Celtic Park.

On 25 January 2023, after being released by Bodø/Glimt, Haikin signed a short-term contract with English Championship club Bristol City until the end of the season. Haikin was released by Bristol City on 21 March 2023, re-signing with Bodø/Glimt the same day, on a contract until the summer of 2026.

On 17 April 2025, during the second leg of Bodø/Glimt's UEFA Europa League tie against Lazio, Haikin saved two penalty kicks, helping the team become the first Norwegian club to reach the semi-finals of a European competition. During the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League, Haikin played a key role in helping his club reach the round of 16. He made a total of 68 saves, surpassing the previous competition record set by Thibaut Courtois in 2021–22.

International career Haikin has been an international youth, including Russia U-21, for Russia since 2010.

He was called up to the Russia senior national team for the first time in October 2021, as part of their World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Croatia. He was included in the extended 41-players list of candidates. He was included in the final squad list for these games and was on the bench in both, backing up Matvei Safonov.

On 31 October 2024, Haikin revealed his intentions to apply for Norwegian citizenship due to his engagement to a Norwegian and desire to settle down there. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken commented that Haikin would be considered for a call-up should he become eligible. On 10 April 2026, Haikin was granted Norwegian citizenship, making him eligible to represent Norway at international level. A month later, on 8 May, reports emerged that FIFA had rejected or delayed Haikin's request to switch his sporting nationality from Russia to Norway due to residency rule requirements, leaving him ineligible for Norway selection ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Career statistics

Honours Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv Israel State Cup: 2016–17

Bodø/Glimt Eliteserien: 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024

Norwegian Football Cup: 2025–26

Individual Eliteserien Best Goalkepper: 2025

Personal life

Citizenships Haikin has quadruple citizenship, having Israeli citizenship by birthright, Russian citizenship through his parents, British passport, and obtained Norwegian citizenship by naturalisation in 2026 after having lived in Norway since March 2019.

Views Haikin describes himself as being "European-minded" and is a supporter of freedom of speech and liberal democracy, while being an opponent of all forms of discrimination.