One amongst the planet’s best footballers is ​​Oleksandr Zinchenko. Ukrainian midfielder or full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko signed for Arsenal after playing at Manchester City since 2016. Capped 52 times with Ukraine, Zinchenko had played 128 games for City, winning 4 league titles and 4 League Cups, as well as an FA Cup, but he had only taken part in 15 championships last year. He should get more playing time with the Arsenal F.C.Gunners who finished 5th last season, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification. While his career at Arsenal looks promising (as explained by his coach, see below), let’s look at how the talented ​​Oleksandr Zinchenko reached this height of success by looking at his past. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko: Facts About The Ukrainian Talent Who Just Left Manchester! 

His father and coach were instrumental in his early talent:

​​Oleksandr Zinchenko was born and raised in the Zhytomyr region, specifically the city of Radomyshl. Football was one of young Alexander’s favorite pastimes. His father, Volodymyr Zinchenko, a former football player, became his son’s first teacher and gave him some secrets of sportsmanship. On September 1, 2004, at the age of 7, Oleksandr was enrolled in the Radomyslsky Junior High School, he started to play for the local children’s team of the Radomyslsky Junior High School “Karpatia”, where he was distinguished by a very spectacular and effective game in the attack.

Serhii Boretskyi was his first coach who largely determined the future fate of young Alexander. Appreciating him highly, the mentor organized a viewing for Oleksandr in the farm club of Shakhtar Donetsk – “Monolit”. 

Manchester City highlights:

On February 10, 2019, in the match of the 26th round of the Premier League against Chelsea, he distinguished himself with two goal assists, giving in the 13th minute to Aguero, and in the 80th minute to Sterling. 

Technically gifted and adept at passing, Zinchenko took an important part in Pep Guardiola’s squad. 

Also in the season, he won the English League Cup, becoming the best player in the match against Chelsea 0:0 (4:3 on penalties). Increasingly important in the eyes of the Catalan boss, Zinchenko went on to make 29 appearances in 2018/19, including debuting in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals, all won by City – to which was added a new title of champion of England.

Zinchenko appeared in 14 games during the 2017/18 season which saw Man City win the title with a historic total of 100 points as well as the Carabao Cup.

In the 1/2 finals of the 2018/19 League Cup against Burton” in the 37th minute, he scored the first goal in a “townsmen” shirt with an arc shot. Zinchenko scored his first goal for City in the next after an incredible effort against Burton Albion. The Ukrainian stepped onto Wembley again in 2019/20 in the Community Shield, where he managed to convert his penalty in the penalty shoot-out win against Liverpool. A few months later, Zinchenko was back at that same stadium, this time to lift another Carabao Cup with his 2-1 winning teammates Aston Villa.

In the Reds’ title year, Zinchenko appeared 25 times in Pep Guardiola ‘s squad . The Cityzens, however, set the record straight the following season by regaining their crown of champions and winning a new Carabao Cup in 2020/21. It was during his last season at the club that Zinchenko was most impressive.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was very angry at Putin for the Ukraine-Russian war: 

On social networks, the Manchester City player spoke to Vladimir Putin, before his publication was deleted a few moments later.

Ukrainian player Oleksandr Zinchenko addressed Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022 on Instagram: “I hope you die the most painful death, you monster”, he published in his story which was quickly deleted by the social network, confirmed by the then Manchester City player.

The Ukrainian international footballer was the second “Blues and Yellows” player to speak, after Roman Yaremchuk, who celebrated a goal last night in the Champions League with the national emblem of Ukraine. “I did it to support my country. I think a lot about what is happening and the situation scares me. I want to support my country and my club supports me,” said the SL Benfica player.

Russian international Fedor Smolov also took a stand by declaring “No to war” on his Instagram profile.

The 25-year-old has shown incredible strength of character by continuing to play despite the conflict that tore and still tears his country apart. Because of his resilience, he has become an example and a source of inspiration for his compatriots who are suffering from the war.

Zinchenko made an impression by draping himself in the Ukrainian flag when we were crowned in the memorable match against Aston Villa. Zinchenko had perhaps one of his best games for Man City that day, playing an instrumental role in securing that new English league title.

July 2022, ​​Oleksandr Zinchenko joins arsenal: 

After missing out on the likes of Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez, Arsenal revived their transfer window by signing Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City. The Gunners have been interested in the Ukraine international for much of the summer since 2021. And they ended up achieving their goals with the recruitment of a versatile element who has experience in the Premier League.

The player who plays as a left-back and attacking midfielder arrived at Manchester City in June 2016 from the Russian club FC Ufa. He played 127 games (2 goals) in the colors of Manchester City, after a season on loan at PSV Eindhoven in 2019-2020.

Six years after signing there, in 2016, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko left Manchester City and joined Arsenal against a check for 37 million euros. The 25-year-old signs a four-season contract and thus joins Gabriel Jesus, another Citizen who became Gunner during this transfer window. 

And the Ukraine international admits he’s no stranger to Gabriel Jesus when he arrives in London: “We are close to each other, I love him so much. He is my great friend, and I would like to say that he was also involved in the discussions, he told me a lot of good things about this incredible club. I’m really impressed and excited”, stated the new recruit! 

He will also find Mikel Arteta in London, who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Sky Blues at the time.

Career with Man City:

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a former player of “Manchester City”, as part of which he became the most decorated Ukrainian player in European championships. He has been with Manchester City since July 2016, having returned from his loan spell at PSV Eindhoven from the summer of 2016 to the summer of 2017. 

FUN FACT: He made his debut in a friendly match against “Bavaria”, leaving everyone stunned from the first minute. 

Just before he joined Manchester, he was with UFA:

On February 12, 2015, Zinchenko signed an agreement with his rival country Russia’s “Ufa”. He made his first appearance in the Russian Premier League on March 20, 2015 in a losing (0:2) game for Ufa against Krasnodar.

The Ukrainian came on as a substitute after the break and played 45 minutes of the match. On July 25, 2015, he scored his first goal in the Russian Premier League in the match of the second round of the Russian championship against the Rostov team (1:2). On December 3, 2015, in the 18th round of the Russian championship between “Zenith” and “Ufa” in the 37th minute of the match, he put his team ahead with an accurate header.

Rumors began to circulate that Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Dynamo and Shakhtar were interested in Zinchenko but it would be the eyes of Manchester City that would fatefully fall on the young footballer. This is because within less than a year of his match in December 2015, he signed a 5-year contract with the English Manchester City on July 4, 2016.

Playing for Blue and Yellow (national team): 

Oleksandr Zinchenko has also been a Ukrainian international in the first team, U21, U19 and U17. After he joined in the summer of 2012, FC Shakhtar Donetsk was his first professional club. As a result of this experience, he wore the FC Ufa shirt between winter 2015 and summer 2016.

At a professional level, he played, among others, the Euro in 2016, the Champions League in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, and the Premier League in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019.

He has scored four goals, distributed seven assists, and received seven yellow cards in 100 professional matches (starter 67 times).

He was once the youngest captain of his country:

Oleksandr Zinchenko led the Ukrainian national team as the captain for the first match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against France, thus becoming the youngest captain in the official matches of the Ukrainian national team. 

Arsenal Highlights:

In the first official match for the new team, the Ukrainian distinguished himself with an effective pass. 

“He is a player that I know very well personally and that I continued to follow after the end of my years at Manchester City”, in 2019, explained the Arsenal coach. 

“Alex is a very high quality player who will give us options and versatility,” said the technician about the Ukrainian who can play almost any position on the left flank or more centered in the middle.

Frequently Asked Questions about Oleksandr Zinchenko

How old is Oleksandr Zinchenko?

Oleksandr Zinchenko was born as “Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zinchenko ” on December 15, 1996 in Radomyshl, Ukraine making him 25 years old in 2022. 

What is Oleksandr Zinchenko’s height? 

The Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Left-handed, he is 1.75 m tall and weighs 64 kg.

How much did Arsenal pay for Zinchenko?

Arsenal paid a sum of 36 million euros to bring Zinchenko to the Emirates Stadium, with a potential bonus that can reach 2.4 million euros if certain objectives are achieved.

What is Zinchenko’s contract at Arsenal?

The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Arsenal, which will keep him in north London until the summer of 2026.

What position does Zinchenko play with Arsenal?

Zinchenko spent most of his time at Manchester City as a substitute left-back. Pep Guardiola wanted to make the most of his energetic style and flank punching abilities.

Zinchenko was brought in primarily as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal. Looking back under the impetus of Pep Guardiola, Zinch was recruited as an attacking midfielder. He was gradually converted to a left-back so that the Ukrainian was able to bring all his offensive qualities making this position one of the central elements of Man City. 

Looking further back, with the national team of Ukraine, Zinchenko often performed as a midfielder and it is in this role that Arsenal wants to create more chances for players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

Who is Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife?

Vlada Sedan is Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife as they have been married since 2020. Vlada Sedan is a Ukrainian sports journalist. The couple announced on August 1, 2021, that they had a daughter.

The Ukrainian couple first met in 2016 but it was in 2019 when Zinchenko proposed to the Ukrainian sports journalist inside the 70,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Kiev in front of a heart-shaped display of red roses.