PSG Signs Illia Zabarnyi, the First Ukrainian Player in Its History
PSG Officially Signs Ukrainian Defender Illia Zabarnyi
Paris Saint-Germain announced the arrival of Ukrainian central defender Illia Zabarnyi from English club Bournemouth on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has signed a five-season contract with the Parisian club.
The transfer fee is estimated at around €63 million, making Zabarnyi one of the ten most expensive defenders in football history.
“PSG is delighted to welcome Illia Zabarnyi. The central defender, who will wear the number 6 shirt, becomes the first Ukrainian player to don the club’s colors,” the French champions stated on their official website.
Zabarnyi, who developed his skills at the Dynamo Kyiv Academy, was mentored early on by Serhiy Bezhenar and Artem Yashkin. He made his professional debut in September 2020 against Desna Chernihiv in the Ukrainian league.
During his time with Dynamo Kyiv, he won the league, the Cup, and the Ukrainian Supercup, standing out for his game reading abilities and his strength in duels.
In January 2023, he joined Bournemouth, quickly establishing himself in the team. He played 37 matches in the Premier League and was voted Player of the Season by the club’s supporters before making the move to the French capital.
Zabarnyi arrives in Paris as a promising recruit, ready to enhance PSG’s defense with ambition.
