<p>-
- PSG strengthens defense by signing Zabarnyi from Bournemouth</p>
<p>August 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM</p>
<p>FILE - Ukraine's Illia Zabarnyi stands prior to the start of the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and Ukraine at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) ()</p>
<p>PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain signed Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth on a five-year contract Tuesday for a reported 63 million euros ($76 million).</p>
<p>The 22-year-old center back joins the European champions after 2 1/2 years at Bournemouth, which has seen its defense ripped apart this offseason. Fellow center back Dean Huijsen has left for Real Madrid and left back Milos Kerkez signed for Liverpool.</p>
<p>However, those sales earned Bournemouth 172 million euros (about 150 million pounds sterling).</p>
<p>Zabarnyi will compete for a place at the heart of the PSG defense with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho.</p>
<p>"I'm very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain," Zabarnyi said. "I am here to give everything I have on the pitch and I'm looking forward to making my debut and meeting the fans."</p>
<p>He was not in the squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Europa League champion Tottenham, although he could feature when PSG begins its Ligue 1 title defense away to Nantes on Sunday.</p>
<p>Zabarnyi, who has 49 caps for Ukraine and previously played for Dynamo Kyiv, could directly challenge veteran captain Marquinhos.</p>
<p>He is PSG's second big signing of the transfer window after goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier joined from Lille for a reported fee of just over 40 million euros, amid reports that No. 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma will leave the club despite an outstanding campaign last season.</p>
<p>One of PSG's backup goalkeepers is Russian Matvei Safonov, who was included in the squad to face Tottenham.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</p>
<a href="https://data852.click/5a32cd58501e613bf372/ee0a75caf0/?placementName=default" class="dirlink-1">Original Article on Source</a>
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: AsherMag
Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog
#US #ShowBiz #Sports #Politics #Celebs