AFC Bournemouth
Ukrainian centre-back Illia Zabarnyi has become a January Deadline Day arrival from Dynamo Kyiv.
The sought-after centre-back signs for the Cherries on a five-and-a-half-year deal, keeping him in Dorset until the summer of 2028.
At just 20 years old, the defender links up with Gary O’Neil’s squad with an illustrious track record behind him.
Here are five things you might not have known about the club’s latest recruit…
1. Starting young
At the age of just 18 years and 36 days, Zabarnyi went close to becoming a record holder for Ukraine.
That was the age that the defender made his debut for the Blue and Yellow which made him the second-youngest player to ever play for Ukraine, only pipped to top spot by Serhiy Rebrov.
His task couldn’t have been greater either, charged with facing Kylian Mbappe’s France in a friendly, which Ukraine ultimately lost.
2. Eventually claiming a youngest spot
While narrowly beaten to the title of youngest footballer the represent Ukraine, the 20-year-old later went on to seal a youngest title.
Playing every minute for his nation at Euro 2020, the then-18-year-old Zarbanyi was the youngest defender at the tournament.
Andriy Shevchenko’s side claimed a group stage victory over North Macedonia before beating Sweden in the round of 16 and exiting to England in the quarter-final.
3. Treble-winning defender
After making his Dynamo Kyiv debut in September 2020 the defender went on to make 84 senior appearances for the club.
His debut season proved the most fruitful in terms of silverware, too, with a Ukrainian treble won.
Beginning the campaign claiming the Ukrainian Super Cup, a Premier Liga title and Ukrainian Cup triumph followed.
Zabanyi now becomes the second treble winner through the door at Vitality Stadium within 24 hours, with Matías Viña having won a Brazilian treble while with Palmeiras.
4. Champions League regular
In both the proper competition and in qualifying, Cherries’ new centre-back has made 21 appearances in the Champions League.
He made his qualifying debut against Dutch club AZ Alkmaar shortly before his first Ukraine outing and his proper competition debut against Juventus shortly after.
Playing every minute in two seasons’ worth of group stages, Zabarnyi has featured home and away against clubs such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Benfica, as well as the aforementioned Juve.
5. Wealth of international experience
To add to the above list of accolades Bournemouth’s Deadline Day arrival has, he has already made a healthy chunk of international appearances for a 20-year-old.
Since making his debut in 2020, Zabarnyi has gone on to make a total of 24 outings for the Blue and Yellow.
Those appearances have come across friendlies, the Nations League, Euro 2020 and World Cup qualification, which Ukraine were knocked out in the play-offs of by Kieffer Moore’s and Chris Mepham’s Wales.
