AFC Bournemouth have confirmed the departure of centre-back Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain.
Sky Sports have reported the deal is worth £54.5 million with a potential €3m in add-ons.
Bournemouth have confirmed the sale of defender Illia Zabarnyi to PSG 🚨
The deal is worth £54.5m (€63m) guaranteed with €3m in add-ons 💰 pic.twitter.com/x5tuHGbG8o
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 12, 2025
The fee falls somewhat short of what Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam was reporting was the Cherries asking price back in June.
At that point, a little under 8 weeks ago, the Cherries had reportedly rejected an “offer totalling £55 million” and said that “The cherries value you him at around £70 million and are reluctant to sell.”
PSG’s second offer totalling £55 million for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi has been rejected.
The cherries value you him at around £70 million and are reluctant to sell.#afcb
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) June 20, 2025
Despite the smaller-than-maybe-hoped-for transfer fee, AFC Bournemouth are expecting to receive in the region of £150 million from the sales of three players from last season’s back four.
Dean Huijsen made the move from the Cherries to Real Madrid, after the Spanish giants triggered the £ 50 million release clause ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in America.
For several months, it had also been evident that Premier League champions Liverpool wanted to sign Milos Kerkez this summer, and that deal was concluded for a reported £40 million.
22-year-old Zabarnyi joined AFC Bournemouth during the January transfer window in 2023 for a reported fee of £24 million.
Zabarnyi made 86 appearances in all competitions for AFC Bournemouth.
Zabarnyi posted a goodbye message to the Dean Court on social media this morning, before the news was officially confirmed by AFC Bournemouth and UEFA Champions League winners PSG.
He said…
It was a journey that changed me a path filled with challenges, victories, defeats, faith, and boundless dedication.
I met incredibly sincere, great people. People who became more than just a team. We walked this road together and that is the greatest value of all.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who stood by me in the brightest moments and the darkest ones.
This is not just an experience. This is a story. This is a memory.
And I am glad I had the honor to walk it with you.
I am grateful to everyone who was there for your faith, for your support, for your honesty, for your friendship, for your professionalism.
A special thanks to the club’s management for your support, trust, and the opportunity to grow. For creating the conditions in which the team could work, develop, and achieve results.
To the entire staff thank you for your incredible kindness, care, and respect in every situation. Your warmth made every day here better and brighter.
To our fans thank you for your love and your unwavering support, both on and off the field.
Your voices, your energy, and the song you created and sang for me will stay with me forever.
And even though this chapter has come to an end, my wishes to AFC Bournemouth family have no limits.
May there be success in everything you set out to do.
May there be love in your heart, clarity in your thoughts, and fire in your eyes❤️
Your say…
afcbmdl27 said…
What a player, what a guy, you can tell how much the club loved him too, from there, thank you.
Personally, I think he is one of, if not the best, players to ever play for us ..
So professional.. wish him nothing but success and will miss him and that song !! – To join the conversation, click here.