Ukrainian winger Oleksii Hutsuliak has officially announced his transfer to the Kazakh club Ordabasy. The 28-year-old footballer has signed a two-year deal with the Shymkent-based team, which achieved a 'double' this season—winning both the league title and the national cup, as well as securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the Kazakh club's press office. In the official photo, Hutsuliak poses with Ordabasy co-owner Beibit Alibekov, holding a blue team jersey with the name 'HUTSULIAK' on the back and the sponsor's inscription 'Zor Qale'.
Departure from Polissya and search for a new club
Oleksii Hutsuliak left Zhytomyr's Polissya in the summer of 2026 as a free agent. The parties decided not to extend the current agreement, after which the winger was left without a team. Hutsuliak had played for the Zhytomyr club for two seasons, after which he spent a considerable amount of time looking for a new club. Moving to Ordabasy is his first significant step outside Ukraine since concluding his career stage in Zhytomyr.
Highest-paid footballer in the Kazakhstan championship
According to Ordabasy co-owner Beibit Alibekov, the 28-year-old Ukrainian will become the most expensive and highest-paid player in the Kazakhstan championship. This statement underscores the scale of the deal and the ambitions of the club, which, as the reigning champion, intends to strengthen its roster before competing in European tournaments. For Hutsuliak, in turn, the move to a championship team represents an opportunity to play at a high level and represent the club in international competitions.
Career background and international experience
Hutsuliak is a product of Karpaty Lviv, from where he was loaned to Spain's Villarreal in the 2016/17 season, spending time with the club's third team, Villarreal C. This experience outside Ukraine became his first international career step. Later, the footballer obtained Polish citizenship, which expands his opportunities for transfers within the European football space. In the two seasons before leaving Polissya, Hutsuliak solidified his place in the Zhytomyr team and became one of its key players on the attacking flank.
Prospects: March debut and a shot at the Champions League
Since the official football season in Kazakhstan has already concluded at the time of signing the contract, Hutsuliak will not be able to debut for his new club in official matches until March 2027. However, the prospect of participating in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, which traditionally takes place in the summer, is open to Ordabasy and its new Ukrainian winger. Thus, as early as the 2027 summer campaign, Hutsuliak could take the field in Europe's most prestigious club tournament, which would be a significant event not only for his personal career but for Ukrainian football as a whole.
Context: Ordabasy and its achievements
Ordabasy Shymkent demonstrated outstanding results in the concluded season, winning the 'double'—the Kazakhstan league title and the national cup. This success allowed the club not only to confirm its status as one of the strongest in the country but also to secure a ticket to the first qualifying round of the Champions League. Signing a contract with Hutsuliak, whom the club's management calls the most expensive acquisition in the history of the Kazakhstan championship, indicates Ordabasy's serious ambitions on the European stage and its readiness to invest in strengthening the roster for successful performances in European competitions.
