Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have completed the signing of Illia Zabarnyi, making the 22-year-old centre-back the first Ukrainian to ever wear the club’s colours.
The Kyiv-born defender will don the number 6 shirt as he begins a new chapter in the French capital.
Zabarnyi who was born on September 1, 2002, came through the famed Dynamo Kyiv academy, honing his craft under former Ukrainian internationals Serhiy Bezhenar and Artem Yashkin.
His rapid rise saw him debut in the Ukrainian Premier Liga on September 11, 2020, against Desna Chernihiv, before making an early impact in the Champions League just days later, facing European giants Juventus and Barcelona in the group stage.
Renowned for his aerial prowess and composure in defence, Zabarnyi scored his first professional goal on April 25, 2021, with a trademark header against Inhoulets Petrove.
By 21, he had already accumulated 12 Champions League and 9 Europa League appearances, helping Dynamo secure league, cup, and Super Cup titles.
The young defender’s career took a Premier League turn on January 31, 2023, when he joined Bournemouth.
His consistency and leadership during the 2023–2024 campaign, featuring in 37 league games, earned him the club’s Player of the Season award, as the Cherries recorded their highest-ever league finish of 9th place.
Internationally, Zabarnyi made his debut for Ukraine at just 18 in a friendly against France at the Stade de France.
He played a key role in Ukraine’s run to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals and was ever-present in last year’s European Championship group stage. With 49 caps and three goals, he is already a mainstay in the national team’s backline.
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