NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Former Yale men's soccer standout Kahveh Zahiroleslam has signed a professional contract with KS Cracovia, the oldest professional club in Poland and a member of the country's top division, the Ekstraklasa.

Cracovia finished sixth in the standings last season and competes regularly against the top clubs in Poland.

Zahiroleslam competed for the Bulldogs in the 2021 and 2022 seasons before leaving Yale to launch his professional career in Europe. He officially completed his degree and graduated from Yale in the spring of 2025.

"I am immensely proud of Kahveh pursuing and achieving his dream of playing professional soccer in Europe, and especially making sure he finished his degree at Yale," said Kylie Stannard, the 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "He is setting a great example that Yale Soccer can truly be the best of all worlds when it comes to elite academics, athletics, and the collegial experience and foundation."

During his time with the Bulldogs, Zahiroleslam emerged as one of the Ivy League's top forwards. In 2021, he earned Second Team All-Ivy honors, collected four Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards, and finished tied for fifth in the league in goals (7) and eighth in points (16). In 2022, he appeared in 10 games (seven starts) and ranked second on the team in goals (4) and points (10).

"My time at Yale laid the foundation for my professional career," Zahiroleslam said. "The lessons I learned—both through YMS and in the classroom—were invaluable in instilling a strong work ethic and a continuous drive for self-improvement."

In summer 2023, Zahiroleslam signed with Sint-Truidense VV of the Belgian Pro League, where he played two seasons, making 50 appearances and tallying 10 goals and 3 assists. During his time in Belgium, he squared off against some of Europe's most prominent clubs, including Club Brugge, Anderlecht, Ajax, and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Stannard shared his excitement for his former striker.

"Kahveh is a very determined young man and was a pleasure to work with during his time here. He insisted on raising everyone's standards on the field and he is a prime example of someone that is truly passionate about the game and put a lot of extra work on his own in order to achieve his goals. I look forward to continuing to follow and support Kahveh's journey and I think he is just scratching the surface of his potential."