Illia

Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain sign Ukraine international defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth.

Paris Saint-Germain have signed centre back Illia Zabarnyi from Premier League club Bournemouth on a five-year contract, with the 22-year-old becoming the French club’s first Ukrainian player in history.

Financial details were not disclosed but media reports on Tuesday said the transfer fee was worth about 63 million euros ($73m).

The Ukraine international was a key part of Bournemouth’s defensive lineup last season, making 36 appearances as the club achieved positive goal difference in a Premier League campaign for the first time, finishing ninth.

Zabarnyi is the latest Bournemouth defender to depart this summer after Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez signed for Liverpool.

“I’m very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, the best club in the world, with the best project. I am here to give everything I have on the pitch and I’m looking forward to making my debut and meeting the fans,” Zabarnyi said in a statement.

Zabarnyi made his senior debut at his hometown club Dyanmo Kyiv before joining Bournemouth in January 2023 on a five-and-a-half year contract.

The English club awarded Zabarnyi, known for his aggressive defending and dominance in aerial duels, with a contract extension until 2029 after an impressive 2023-2024 campaign.

“We’re delighted to continue the strengthening of our squad with the signature of Illia Zabarnyi. Illia is a talented international player and a great professional. He will make a major contribution to everything that we are building long-term at Paris Saint-Germain,” PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.

Champions League winners PSG, who also lifted the Ligue 1 and French Cup titles last season, face Tottenham Hotspur for the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

The Parisians have also already had nine players nominated for this year’s Ballon d’OR award.

Bournemouth expected at least one defender to be sold this summer but to lose three has been a shock, according to sources inside the club.

Each move has been difficult to turn down, though, with such high fees on offer from three of the world’s biggest clubs.

But the lengthy negotiations with PSG have shown Bournemouth have been doing deals on their terms, albeit with an acceptance each player has wanted to take the next step in their career.

The Cherries, who more than tripled the £12.8m paid to sign Huijsen from Juventus six months earlier, did not expect his £50m release clause to be seen as value for money by suitors within a year.

Real Madrid won the race but Huijsen attracted a lot of other interest – including from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – after a brilliant season at Vitality Stadium.

Diakite fills one of the gaps at centre-back and £14.4m Frenchman Adrien Truffert has been signed to fill the Kerkez hole – and a further central defender is being sought.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga – who opted to join Arsenal from Chelsea instead of Bournemouth – and they also signed teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi in February.

Manager Andoni Iraola also wants a striker to add competition for Evanilson, given Enes Unal remains out having suffered a serious knee injury last season.