Illia Zabarnyi, the young Ukrainian Centre-Back for AFC Bournemouth, is proving to be crucial for his team with his remarkable ability to recover the ball, with his performance in this aspect falling into the top 4% of his peers in the Premier League. Combining this with a commendable capability for progressive carrying, his skillset positions him as a modern defender adept in transitioning from defence to offence.
Zabarnyi often plays in sync with his charismatic 'no-nonsense' style, often discouraging his opposition’s attacks by firmly standing his ground in the defensive and midfield thirds, where he engages nearly 97% of his touches. However, this leaves space for improvement in the attacking third where his contribution is relatively low.
Arguably, his role is purely defensively skewed. While his chance creation and assists per 90 fall in the lower third of the percentile, with due attention to his primary role, these metrics do not necessarily define his prowess.
His impressive ball retention ability - better than 60% of central defenders - demonstrates his command over the possession, despite a lower percentile in actual touches, portraying him as a reliable figure with less unnecessary risk plays.
Crucial in his analysis, however, is pass accuracy and aerial duels win, which sit below the lower third mark among his Premier League contemporaries. Enhancing these aspects can bolster his defensive ability and deepen his overall involvement in the game.
Zabarnyi has shown he is a promising player, but as with many young talents, there is a lot more room left for refinement. Having said that, his ball recovery and progressive carrying capabilities can be attributed as his game defining attributes providing a blend of classic and modern defensive play. The Bournemouth's scout report surely showcases the player to keep an eye on.
Illia Zabarnyi Key stats
Illia Zabarnyi Career Trend
Illia Zabarnyi Shot Maps
Illia Zabarnyi Shot Summary
In the 2024-2025 season, Illia Zabarnyi took 1 shots, scoring 0 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 0.19, averaging 0.19 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Headers: 0 goals from 1 headed attempts. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.19 xG per shot.
