Reports are emerging that Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign PSG defender Illia Zabarnyi after choosing a move to Paris over Merseyside last summer.
Richard Hughes tried to bring the 6 ft 2 centre-back last summer after his outstanding performances under Andoni Iraola, before the Ukrainian opted to move to PSG instead in a €63m (£57mm) transfer.
The 23-year-old, who penned a five-year deal, said he had joined “the best club in the world, with the best project.” While it’s hard to disagree with PSG being the best club team in the world right now after winning the Champions League back-to-back seasons, Liverpool may now be the best place for Zabarnyi.
Now, it looks like he’s being offered to Liverpool and Chelsea.
Liverpool offered the chance to sign Zabarnyi to orchestrate reunion with Iraola
Iraola is one of the big reasons why Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen were so good in the 2024/25 season before they joined PSG and Real Madrid respectively, but a reunion is now on the cards, according to Alex Crook.
Crook reports for TalkSPORT that Liverpool and Chelsea have been contacted about signing Zabarnyi this summer.
He said: “One name that was mentioned to me this morning is being offered to Liverpool and Chelsea is Illia Zabarnyi.”
???????? ????: One name that was mentioned to me this morning is being offered to Liverpool and Chelsea is Illia Zabarnyi, reports @alex_crook ???? pic.twitter.com/CmhwreP52p
— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) July 22, 2026
Liverpool are already very familiar with Zabarnyi after doing the groundwork on his signing last summer
Liverpool were so serious about signing Zabarnyi last summer that after the recruitment department did their homework on the 23-year-old, Richard Hughes was in contact with his old club Bournemouth.
Ultimately, Zabarnyi chose to join PSG, which was a very understandable decision.
However, it didn’t pan out with the Kyiv-born star not trusted in the Champions League, although he did play over 2,300 minutes in Ligue 1.
Still, this was a major reduction on the 3,100 minutes he played in the Premier League the season before.
Reports today that Zabarnyi has been offered to #LFC. Richard Hughes signed back in 2023, did very well under Iraola. He started 26/28 league matches for PSG last season so why would PSG sell him? Squad harmony could be one cause, but rift with Safanov could just be rumours,… pic.twitter.com/cLWxW5gIY5
— Moby (@Mobyhaque1) July 22, 2026
Liverpool should act on this opportunity to reinforce the lack of centre-back options available to Iraola.
His familiarity with the Ukrainian defender would make a move to Anfield quite seamless given the circumstances. Crook didn’t mention how expensive a deal for Zabarnyi would be, but PSG may be willing to accept a similar fee to the one they paid Bournemouth a year ago.
Michael first started supporting Liverpool after Istanbul in 2006. He has since followed the Reds with passion and curiosity, founding Rousing the Kop, Anfield Central while briefly co-owning Anfield Watch. Michael lives in Cape Town, South Africa.