After spearheading Dnipro’s charge, all the way till the Europa League Finals, Konoplyanka is on the brink of sealing a move to the very opponents his team lost to in Warsaw. His transfer has exhibited his desire to play in the Champions League, as well as Sevilla’s ability to find quality attacking players.
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Sevilla have all but won the race to sign the Ukranian winger, fending off stiff competition form the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and surprisingly, Stoke City.
Having served as the Prince Charming to Dnipro’s fairytale run in the Europa League, Yevhen Konoplyanka now departs the Dnipro Arena for the RamA?n SA?nchez PizjuA?n for a prospective four-year deal.
The club confirmed that the move was on, during the twilight hours of July 2nd
“Sevilla have reached an agreement with the player, in the absence of a medical and closing a deal with Dnipro”
Read a statement on the club website.
The 25-year-old winger has been courted by top clubs from across the continent as he came towards the end of his contract with Dnipro.
Seville and Stoke had seemed to be battling at the front of the queue but any deal proved too complicated to rush over the line for either club.
Atletico Madrid appeared to steal a march on both and Seville declared they were ending their interest. But their bluff appears to have worked because the Ukraine international is now in Seville to finalise the deal.
Konoplyanka has been one of Europe’s hottest young prospects, setting both club and country alight, with his speed movement and consistency. Operating primarily from the left wing, Konoplyanka has a tendency to drift into the centre and create plays in the blink of an eye. Such performances have earned him the moniker of The Ukranian Messi. Yevhen however, suggests that while the comparisons are flattering, he’s only focussed on bettering his own abilities.
Konoplyanka’s switch brings to a close a nine year association with FC Dnipro, where he joined as a youngster in 2006. Konoplyanka scored 45 goals and created 67 assists in 209 games. In addition to this, Konoplyanka is a three-timeUkrainian Footballer of the Year, as well as 6th on Ukraine’s list of all time top goal scorers for the National Team.
Despite selling Carlos Bacca to AC Milan, Sevilla will not be short of creativity or goals in the coming season. Konoplyanka has become Sevillaa s fourth major signing after deals for Adil Rami, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Gael Kakuta.
With coach Unai Emery looking firmly towards Champions League progression, Sevilla will now have a more offensively creative team, to lead them to more success in the coming years.