Ludogorets has finalized the signing of Ukrainian defensive midfielder Ivan Zhelizko from Polish club Lechia (Gdańsk). The two clubs successfully completed negotiations for the deal, and the player passed the mandatory medical examinations and fitness tests.
For the signature of the 25-year-old midfielder, Ludogorets competed with leading clubs from the Polish Ekstraklasa, as well as Italian side Udinese.
"Ludogorets is a big club and a well-known name in Europe. My transfer to this team is a serious step forward in my career. I am happy to be part of this club and will give my all to help the team achieve its goals," said Ivan Zhelizko.
The Ukrainian midfielder has represented all age groups of his country's national teams. He is a youth product of Karpaty (Lviv) and Karvina, and in his professional career has also played for Latvian side Valmiera, with whom he became Latvian champion in 2022.
Zhelizko is Ludogorets' fifth new addition this summer following the transfers of Mikhail Polendakov, Nathan Fernandez, Hossam Abdelmagid, and Ivo Gërbich.
This is Ivan Zhelizko
Born: 12 February 2001, Lviv, Ukraine
Position: Defensive midfielder
Height: 187 cm
Youth clubs: Karpaty (Lviv), Karvina
Career
2021: Valmiera (on loan) – 25 matches, 1 goal
2021/22:
Karvina – 6 matches
2022/23:
Valmiera – 44 matches, 5 goals
2023–2026:
Lechia (Gdańsk) – 89 matches, 13 goals
Ukraine national team
U17: 13 matches
U18: 3 matches
U19: 3 matches
U21: 23 matches
U23: 1 match
Achievements
Latvian Champion: 2022