Illia Zabarnyi: Paris Saint-Germain sign central defender from Bournemouth as Cherries lose another member of back four
By Will Conroy
Updated 12/08/2025 at 09:30 GMT+1
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Illia Zabarnyi is the latest Bournemouth defender to move away from the Vitality Stadium, with the 22-year-old joining UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. The Ukrainian's transfer to Ligue 1 comes after Milos Kerkez's move to Premier League champions Liverpool and Dean Huijsen's switch to Real Madrid, leaving Andoni Iraola without much of his first-choice back four from last season.
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UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain have signed central defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old joins the Ligue 1 side on a five-year contract in a deal worth £54.3m (€63m) guaranteed with add-ons.
He is the latest defender to depart the Vitality Stadium after Milos Kerkez's move to Liverpool and Dean Huijsen's transfer to Real Madrid earlier in the summer.
The Ukraine international joined the Cherries from Dynamo Kyiv in 2023 and made 86 appearances for the club in his two-and-a-half-year stay.
"I am very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, the best club in the world, with the best project," Zabarnyi told the club website. "I am here to give everything I have on the pitch, and I am looking forward to making my debut and meeting the supporters."
Zabarnyi was part of Bournemouth's joint-highest ever finish in the top-flight, with Andoni Iraola's side ending last season in ninth place in the Premier League.
They had threatened to qualify for Europe, sitting as high as fifth in February, but a late drop in form saw their push for continental football fade away.
Zabarnyi scored just one goal in his time at Bournemouth, netting in the lively 4-3 comeback against Luton in March last year, with the Cherries having trailed 3-0 at the break.
Speaking about the move, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: "We are delighted to continue strengthening our team with the signing of Illia Zabarnyi.
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"Illia is a talented international player and a great professional – he will make a major contribution to everything we are building over the long term at Paris Saint-Germain."
Zabarnyi, who has played 48 times at international level for Ukraine, will wear the No. 6 shirt at PSG.
He is joining PSG months after the club won the Champions League for the first time in their history, dismantling Inter 5-0 in the final. Last season, the French giants also won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
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