Shakhtar Donetsk defender Yukhym Konoplia has moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach as a free agent. The defender signed a three-year contract. This was reported by the press service of the German club, according to UNN.
Details
"Borussia has signed a contract with 26-year-old defender Yukhym Konoplia from Shakhtar Donetsk. The 27-time Ukrainian international is moving to Borussia as a free agent starting from the next 2026/27 season and has signed a contract until June 30, 2029," the club's statement reads.
Sporting director Roland Virkus stated: "Yukhym is a physically strong, active, and tenacious defender. As a key player for the Ukrainian champions, and thanks to his regular appearances for the national team and matches in the Champions League, he will bring significant experience and leadership qualities with him."
"I am very happy about the move to Borussia. It is a very big club with a long history and an incredible army of fans. Right now, I am experiencing many emotions that I can't even fully explain. It will take a few days for me to process it all. But in any case, I am looking forward to a great time at Borussia,"
Addition
Yukhym Konoplia is a product of the Shakhtar Donetsk youth academy, where he has played since 2019. At one point, he played on loan at Desna Chernihiv. In total, the defender played 114 official matches for Shakhtar — 79 matches in the league (6 goals), six matches in the Cup (1 goal), one Super Cup match, 15 UEFA Champions League matches, seven UEFA Europa League matches (including qualifiers), and six UEFA Conference League matches (including qualifiers) — in which he scored a total of seven goals and provided 15 assists.
With Shakhtar, Konoplia won Ukrainian league titles, as well as Ukrainian Cup and Ukrainian Super Cup gold medals.
Also this season, together with Shakhtar, he reached the semi-finals of the Conference League, where they lost to the eventual winners, Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace narrowly beat Rayo Vallecano to win the Conference League28.05.26, 00:03
It should be noted that under Shakhtar's new coach Arda Turan, Konoplia lost his place in the starting lineup. Rumors that the defender would leave Shakhtar this summer had been circulating for a long time. However, media recently reported that Konoplia agreed to extend his contract with the "Miners" at the last moment, but the club refused.
Konoplia's transfer to Germany opens up another transfer for Shakhtar Donetsk. Rumors are circulating online that Dynamo Kyiv right-back Oleksandr Karavaiev, who is a product of the "Miners" academy, will sign a contract with the Donetsk club as a free agent.
Karavaiev's contract with the Kyiv side expires on June 30.
Recall
19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper Nazar Domchak of Karpaty Lviv has moved to Slavia Prague.