A key personnel decision for the summer transfer window has been made at Kyiv's Dynamo. Matvey Ponomarenko, a forward for the Ukrainian national team, has officially decided on his future and chosen to continue his career with the capital club. Despite active interest from foreign teams, the talented 20-year-old forward preferred to stay with his home team.

Information confirming the signing of the new agreement was provided by the "TaToTake" project, citing RBK-Ukraine. The parties have already reached an agreement that will allow Dynamo to retain one of the country's most promising attacking players.

Personal meeting with the president

The contract extension process began well before the start of the summer training camps. Ponomarenko initiated a personal meeting with the club's president, Ihor Surkis. During the conversation, the parties reached a verbal agreement to sign a new long-term contract.

The footballer clearly stated his position: at this stage of his career, he intends to link his plans exclusively with the Kyiv giant. It is expected that the new document will include significantly more attractive financial terms for the forward, serving as a fair recognition of his contribution to the team's success.

Rejecting offers from Europe

Ponomarenko's decision came as a surprise to many European scouts. In recent months, rumors about the possible transfer of the Ukrainian have been actively circulating in the media. The list of clubs interested in the forward's services included famous teams:

  • Istanbul's Galatasaray, which allegedly showed serious interest in the player.
  • French Strasbourg, which considered Ponomarenko as an attacking reinforcement.
  • Italian Milan, which also included the Ukrainian in its list of priority transfer targets.

However, the footballer himself decided not to change his residence and stay in Kyiv, despite the temptation to move to foreign leagues.

The path to success at Dynamo

Matvey Ponomarenko has already proven his worth in the Ukrainian Premier League. He made his debut for the main Dynamo team back in 2023, and in the 2024/25 season, he became the champion of the country. The real breakthrough occurred last season when the forward managed to establish himself in the starting lineup and became one of the main heroes of the attack.

The player's statistics speak for themselves: last season, Ponomarenko scored 16 goals in all competitions. Such a result confirms his status as one of the most promising attacking performers in Ukrainian football.

The decision to keep Ponomarenko in the club fits into Dynamo's overall strategy for working with youth. Previously, the capital giant decided to loan out another young footballer — 22-year-old Maksym Dyachuk. At the same time, the club has already started the new season, playing its first match in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stage.