Artem Dovbyk is the latest underrated signing of the season, who has absolutely left a tremendous impact so far. The Ukrainian has been scoring goals for fun in La Liga, which has helped his new side Girona FC grab become league leaders.
Girona has been on a tear this year, and they’re just halfway through the season. Part of it is thanks to their recruitment strategy, which has seen them bring in many underrated stars, such as Savinho. And Dovbyk has proven why he should be monitored by the rest of Europe.
Who is Artem Dovbyk?
Artem Dovbyk is a 26-year-old professional soccer player who plays as a forward for La Liga leaders Girona and Ukraine on the international stage. Born in Ukraine, he is an academy product of the local club FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro.
In 2015, Dovbyk signed his first deal with the Ukrainian football club FC Dnipro, marking a watershed point in his career. During a brief loan spell in Moldova, he demonstrated his abilities before making an impressive impression upon his return to his home club.
His outstanding performances on the pitch earned him the coveted Ukrainian Premier League Best Young Player Award in 2017. Later, the gifted person in question was invited to join the national squad for the highly anticipated 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Andriy Shevchenko, the acclaimed coach and iconic footballer, offered this extraordinary player the chance to shine at the international level.
He stayed with the club as they went through relegation. He would later join another club, this time Danish club FC Midtjylland. After a good spell there, he returned to his country, playing for Dnipro-1. He impressed the club’s management by scoring 44 goals in 71 appearances. But after the Russian invasion of the country, he had to leave as the season was cancelled.
During the summer, Girona FC made the decision to sign him for a fee of €7 million. This signing made him the most expensive in their history. He recently signed a contract that extends until 2028 and had a successful debut against Real Sociedad, scoring a goal in the process.
Artem Dovbyk, who was called up in 2016, finally made his international debut in 2021. The match was a qualifier against Kazakhstan. He was included in the Euro 2020 squad and had limited playing time. However, he made a significant impact as a substitute in the Round of 16 against Sweden, securing victory with his winning goal. It was his first goal ever for his country. Since then, he has accumulated 23 caps for Ukraine, with 7 goals already scored.
Artem Dovbyk in the mix with Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski
Artem Dovbyk has been a revelation for Girona, providing instant impact from the start. He has made himself one of their best players and is very crucial to their success.
He is also one of the best players in La Liga so far, especially with his attacking stats. The 26-year-old has scored 10 goals so far in 16 games, including two in yesterday’s match against Alaves. He had also scored the opening goal in the 4-2 win over Catalan rivals Barcelona.
🇺🇦✨ Girona striker Artem Dovbyk (26) has been producing this season! 2 goals again last night.
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 19, 2023
He signed in summer from Ukrainian club SK Dnipro-1 for a club record fee of €7.75m. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/GsxilUopSa
With his 10 goals, he is joint second in the La Liga top scorer charts with Borja Mayoral. Above him is Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham with 13 goals, who has also made quite a great start with the club. Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski is far behind with only 8 goals so far, while Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Greizmann has 9 goals.
But Dovbyk is also a good chance creator, with 5 assists to his name. This makes him joint top assister in the league, with the likes of Toni Kroos, Nico Williams and others.
Artem Dovbyk is a great talent and will only continue to prove himself. It is only a matter of time before he starts to attract the interest of all the top clubs in Europe. Dovbyk will lead Girona’s title charge once again when the Spanish side face Real Betis on Friday.
