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PSG strengthens defense by signing Zabarnyi from Bournemouth

Sport

PSG strengthens defense by signing Zabarnyi from Bournemouth
Sport

Sport

PSG strengthens defense by signing Zabarnyi from Bournemouth

2025-08-12 19:03 Last Updated At:19:10

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.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Ukraine's Illia Zabarnyi stands prior to the start of the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and Ukraine at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - Ukraine's Illia Zabarnyi stands prior to the start of the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and Ukraine at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan didn’t let city rival Inter Milan open up too big a gap at the top of Serie A as it fought back to win 3-1 at in-form Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot winning a penalty and then scoring two goals.

Inter had moved six points clear of Milan and Napoli with a 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday, coupled with Napoli’s frustrating draw against Parma.

Milan’s victory saw the Rossoneri cut the gap back to three points.

It didn’t start off so well for Massimiliano Allegri’s team, however.

Como — which was sixth in Serie A — got off to the perfect start when a corner was taken short and then floated in for Marc-Oliver Kempf to head the hosts into the lead in the 10th minute.

Como dominated but Milan leveled on the stroke of halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Rabiot was brought down by Kempf and Christopher Nkunku’s spot kick squirmed under the body of Jean Butez.

Milan turned the match around completely 10 minutes into the second half. Rafael Leão controlled a crossfield pass and then cut inside before lifting the ball over for Rabiot to chest down and volley across into the bottom right corner.

And Rabiot sealed the match shortly before full time when Niclas Füllkrug headed a ball back to the France midfielder and he drilled hard and low into the near corner.

Bologna ended a miserable run as it fought back to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a match full of spectacular goals.

Bologna hadn’t won since November and got off to a poor start when it gave away the ball in the opposition penalty area and Antoine Bernède raced almost from box to box before laying it off for Gift Orban to fire home.

Riccardo Orsolini curled in an equalizer following a smart free kick and equally impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna 3-1 up at halftime.

Bologna midfielder Remo Marco Freuler accidentally turned a cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

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