Why Bournemouth’s Zabarnyi is the Perfect Fit For PSG | OneFootball

What do you get for the team that has everything?

That’s currently the dilemma that Paris Saint-Germain is facing. For so long, PSG has splurged billions of dollars in pursuit of reaching the apex of the European game—the UEFA Champions League. They’ve finally done just that, winning the trophy in impressive fashion after demolishing Inter Milan 5-0. Now, the question is: Who should they sign to ensure they continue their ruthless dominance?

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As things stand, it seems that PSG’s first signing of the summer will be none other than Ilya Zabarnyi. The Ukrainian has emerged as one of the best defensive talents in England’s top flight since joining AFC Bournemouth in 2023, combining ruthless aggression with a poised nature on the ball. Similarly to Jimmy Conrad and Chris Richards, Zabarnyi is skilled at shifting between a strict man-marking approach and a looser, zonal style of defending. Thanks to his footballing intelligence, positional awareness, and combative style, he has emerged as a vital cog in central defense alongside Dean Huijsen, who recently joined Real Madrid. But just what exactly makes Zabarnyi the perfect fit for PSG? Let’s take a look.

Leadership

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Anybody who watched Bournemouth last season will have come to appreciate Zabarnyi’s importance in the Cherries’ backline. He is sensational at bringing the ball out from the back and maneuvering it into the final third, ranking second in their squad for accurate passes per game (39.0) and completing 82% of those passes, as well as ranking second for accurate long balls per game (3.2) behind Huijsen (4.0). However, perhaps Zabarnyi’s biggest quality isn’t so much a specific playing attribute as it is an intangible quality: leadership.

“Zabarnyi is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team right now; his young age belies the level of stability and confidence in his play,” said Yehor Mykhaylovych Tverdokhlib, who finished as the second-top scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League this season. “He is one of the best defenders in the history of Ukraine, and I’m confident that he has a great future behind him and could play in one of the best clubs in the world.”

Some players are born to lead, and some are born to follow. Zabarnyi fits the former category, capable of organizing a backline, instilling confidence and composure in his fellow teammates, and leading them on an upward trajectory. He’s someone whose impact is noticed as much when he’s on the pitch as when he’s off the pitch, and it’s why he’s poised to secure a big-money transfer this summer.

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