PSGare expected to target a center-back this summer, and one player who caught their eye was Bournemouth standout Illya Zabarnyi. However, convincing the Ukrainian defender to leave wouldn’t be easy.
Last year, PSG focused on a youth-driven approach with signings like Lucas Beraldo and Willian Pacho, and that trend seemed likely to continue this window. Although the summer transfer market was still a couple of months away, rumors were already picking up steam.
In May,SkySport Switzerland linked PSG with Zabarnyi and Club Brugge’s Joel Ordoñez as possible options. Whether Zabarnyi became a serious target appeared to depend on how other areas of the squad developed.
One key factor was the future of Matvey Safonov. If Gianluigi Donnarumma secured his spot as the long-term No. 1 goalkeeper, Safonov could be on his way out—either on loan or through a permanent transfer.
Freeing up space in the goalkeeper rotation might have given PSG more flexibility—and potentially made their offer to Zabarnyi more attractive.
Could Bournemouth standout be nearing PSG move?
Illya Zabarnyi
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
On Tuesday, EuroSport’s Romain Collet-Gaudin reported that Zabarnyi is close to joining PSG in a deal expected to be completed after the Club World Cup.
Zabarnyi et le PSG, accord très proche !
Le défenseur ukrainien de Bournemouth devrait signer au PSG mais après la Coupe du Monde des clubs. pic.twitter.com/nRdSEoMXPd
— Romain Collet Gaudin (@RomainCG75) June 10, 2025
According to a previous report fromL’Équipe’s Loïc Tanzi, PSGare still in talks with Bournemouth over a deal for Zabarnyi.The defender has alreadytold the club he only wants to join PSG ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, but Bournemouthare demanding a fee of around €70 million.
Still, PSG couldface a challenge in securing the talented defender, asThe iPaper reported that Zabarnyi, a serious target for Newcastle and admired by Manchester City, is believed to have a starting price tag of around £50 million.