Tottenham Hotspur Are Showing Interest In This Bournemouth Defender: What Will He Add To Frank’s Side? | OneFootball

In a recent edition of the Transfers Podcast, journalist Duncan Castles claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are showing interest in Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi. Castles said,

“Illia Zabarnyi, who Paris Saint-Germain have been working on a deal for about six months in reality, but actively working with Bournemouth for three months, I’m told, their offer for the Ukraine centre back is €60m.

“They believe they should be able to secure the player at that price, and the player definitely wants to come to them — has agreed personal terms with PSG and is pushing for the move.

“But Tottenham, one of several Premier League clubs who are unsurprisingly interested in the 22-year-old, one of the quickest centre-backs in the Premier League and almost a perfect attendance record in the Premier League over his two seasons at Bournemouth.

“Guidance from Bournemouth is that Tottenham have offered €70m for the player, which is owner Bill Foley’s asking price, and which would represent a new club record transfer fee for Tottenham, exceeding the initial £55m with £10m of variables that they paid Bournemouth for Dominic Solanke last summer.”

Zabarnyi’s Impressive Form In The Premier League Last Season

Zabarnyi had a solid campaign at the English club after he put in a series of impressive performances at the heart of their backline. The 22-year-old made 39 appearances for the Cherries last season, securing one assist in multiple competitions.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Illya Zabarnyi of AFC Bournemouth is tackled by Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on May 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The Ukrainian centre-back gave a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field as he made 52 tackles, 33 blocks and 41 interceptions in the Premier League. He even distributed possession relatively well from the back based on his pass success rate of 82.1% in the English top tier (stats via fbref.com).

What Will Zabarnyi Add To Tottenham Hotspur Boss Thomas Frank’s Side?

Zabarnyi is a tough-tackling defender who can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually clears his lines when the opposition are on the offensive and excels at playing his way out from the back.

The Ukraine international can even use his strong 1.89m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. He has already got some experience in the Premier League under his belt and won’t take much time to adjust to life at Tottenham.

At 22, the future looks quite promising for the Bournemouth talent. He would undoubtedly add more quality to Spurs boss Thomas Frank’s defence in the long run. Therefore, it makes sense for the North London club to try everything they can to bring him on board this summer.