PSG strengthens defense by signing Zabarnyi from Bournemouth

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).

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.

However, those sales earned Bournemouth 172 million euros (about 150 million pounds sterling).

Zabarnyi will compete for a place at the heart of the PSG defense with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho.

“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.”

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.

Zabarnyi, who has 49 caps for Ukraine and previously played for Dynamo Kyiv, could directly challenge veteran captain Marquinhos.

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.

One of PSG’s backup goalkeepers is Russian Matvei Safonov, who was included in the squad to face Tottenham.

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