Illia Zabarnyi joins PSG as one of the Premier League’s standout defenders. The Ukrainian arrives in Paris as a long-term backup to Marquinhos, who is entering the latter stages of his career at the top level.
Who is Illia Zabarnyi?
Born in Kyiv on September 1, 2002, Illia Zabarnyi is a Ukrainian center-back with a market value of around €42 million. A right-footed player, he stands 189 cm tall and weighs 80 kg.
He began his career in the youth academy of his hometown club, Dynamo Kyiv. In the 2020/21 season, he signed his first professional contract with the senior team, marking his official entry into professional football.
Due to his rapid development and maturity, Bournemouth signed him in January 2023 for approximately €22.7 million — one of the most expensive transfers in Ukrainian football history.
Since arriving in England, Zabarnyi has adapted impressively to the demands of the Premier League, becoming a key figure in Andoni Iraola’s system. Known for his consistency, low injury risk, and excellent ball-handling skills, he has now been recruited by Luis Enrique’s PSG. Let’s analyze his playing style and how he might fit into the Parisian side.
An Outstanding Defender
Overall, Zabarnyi is a high-quality defender. He posts strong numbers in progressive dribbling, goals saved, duel win percentage, tackles, and long passes.
His weaknesses lie in his short passing game — he is not heavily involved in building play from deep — and in interceptions, as he prefers to hold his position and challenge the striker rather than step out aggressively from his zone.
Among Premier League defenders, Zabarnyi ranks third in progressive play rate. He often drives out of his own half with the ball, using his long strides to gain ground. His physical strength, combined with surprising technical ability for his size, allows him to advance possession effectively.
In terms of passing, while he doesn’t dominate in short distribution or deep playmaking, he is the fourth-most accurate long passer among defenders in the league (8.1 per game) and ranks seventh in progressive passes (9.07). His contributions often come in the form of long diagonals to the flanks, breaking opposition structure and creating counterattacking opportunities.
Given that PSG is one of Europe’s leading sides in long-ball usage, Zabarnyi’s skill set should translate seamlessly. His passing range could help unleash the pace of players like Doué, Dembélé, and others in direct attacking transitions.
Defensively, Zabarnyi is equally solid, ranking eighth in the league for defensive duels won (4.3 per game). He is a patient defender who prefers to wait for the right moment to tackle rather than diving in recklessly. His pace allows him to recover well in defensive transitions, making him difficult to exploit in open space.
When compared to other Premier League center-backs, Zabarnyi ranks as the eighth-best overall, with an average score of 82/100. Notably, his former teammate Sean Huijsen ranks fifth, underlining Bournemouth’s strong defensive performances under Iraola.
The Leader of the Defense
Zabarnyi’s heatmap reveals that he covers almost the entire right side of his own half. His tendency to carry the ball forward gives him greater movement range than many center-backs, as he frequently steps out of the defensive line with the ball at his feet to seek passing options.
His natural role is as a right-sided center-back, a position he occupies consistently. At PSG, he is expected to become the direct understudy to Marquinhos, who has shown signs of decline in recent matches.
Transfer and Contract Figures
Illia Zabarnyi joins PSG from Bournemouth for around €55 million, signing a contract until 2030. His salary, around €3 million per year, is negligible in the context of PSG’s financial capacity.
Comparison with the Rest of PSG’s Defenders
PSG boasts several high-level center-backs, including Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Lucas Beraldo.
Compared to them, Zabarnyi performs better in defensive duels and possessions won, coming close to Pacho in those metrics. He also shares Marquinhos’ ability to carry the ball forward, making him a blend of Pacho’s defensive solidity and Marquinhos’ ball progression. However, he will need to improve his short passing and aerial duel success to fully match their profiles.
An Excellent Alternative
As one of the Premier League’s top center-backs last season and given PSG’s need for a reliable long-term replacement for Marquinhos, Zabarnyi’s signing brings both quality and stability to the Parisian defense. His defensive consistency, progressive ball-carrying, and long-passing range make him a valuable addition, with the potential to be a cornerstone for PSG in the years to come.
An excellent acquisition.