Ukrainian midfielder Ivan Zhelizko, a product of the Lviv Karpaty academy, has received Polish citizenship along with his family members. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the Polish publication Meczyki and journalist Maciej Slominski. The footballer himself had not commented on the decision at the time of publication. The fact of acquiring a second passport is confirmed by two independent Ukrainian sports outlets, which rely on the same Polish source.
Career path: from Lviv academy to the Bulgarian league
Zhelizko began his football career in the Lviv Karpaty system, but has been performing outside of Ukraine since 2019. During this time, the midfielder has played in the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Poland, where he spent several seasons. In the summer of 2026, Zhelizko left the Polish championship and joined the Bulgarian club Ludogorets, managed by former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Igor Jovicevic. Thus, in four years of his foreign career, the midfielder has changed four countries, which is typical for players of his generation looking for optimal development conditions.
Status in international teams: a window of opportunity
A key aspect of obtaining a Polish passport relates to the footballer's international status. Zhelizko has represented Ukraine’s youth and U-21 teams, but he has never debuted for the country's senior national team. Under FIFA rules, a player who has not played a single match for a senior national team (or has not played in qualifying/final tournaments) retains the right to change his sports nationality if he holds citizenship of another country. Thus, a Polish passport formally opens the door for Zhelizko to play for the Polish national team. At the same time, the midfielder has previously spoken in interviews about his desire to progress in club football and did not rule out the dream of being called up to the Ukrainian national team.
Current form at Ludogorets
Following his summer move to the Bulgarian club, Zhelizko has played four matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists. The stats look decent for a midfielder still integrating into a new team, although his amount of playing time is currently limited. Ludogorets, under the management of Jovicevic, is traditionally one of the strongest clubs in Bulgaria and regularly participates in European competitions, which gives Zhelizko a platform for further development and to attract attention from national teams — both from Poland and Ukraine.
What’s next: the player’s decision
It is currently unknown whether Zhelizko intends to consider playing for the Polish national team. Obtaining citizenship is only the first step, creating a legal possibility; the final decision on which flag to play under on the international stage remains with the player. So far, he has not made any public statements about changing his sports nationality or his intention to remain loyal to the Ukrainian team. In the football environment, such decisions are often made taking into account recommendations from agents, coaching staff, and personal ambitions, so the topic may take concrete shape in the coming months.
