"The team needs me more than I need the team": Sydorchuk explains his decision to extend his contract with Westerlo

Serhiy Sydorchuk, the Ukrainian midfielder playing for Belgian club Westerlo, has extended his contract with the club and, in an exclusive interview on the On-side YouTube channel, candidly talked about how he made this decision. The 35-year-old midfielder, who moved to the Belgian club from Kyiv's Dynamo in September 2023 for 700,000 euros, shared the realities of football at his age and explained why, at this stage of his career, his priorities have shifted toward stability and family comfort. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA.

Older football: when the club needs the player more than the player needs the club

Sydorchuk did not hide that the decision to extend came to him relatively quickly, however, behind this "quick" choice lay a deep understanding of his position in professional football. In his own words, he himself was expecting an offer from Westerlo, as he wanted to continue active performances at the professional level. "When you reach a certain age in football, the team needs you more than you need the team. I think I was in that situation, because I wanted to continue an active professional career, meaning I was waiting. When you have one, two, three years left in professional football, you want to stay as long as possible," the Ukrainian midfielder stated. These words reflect a typical situation for players who have crossed the 30-year mark: competition for a place in the squad intensifies, and the opportunity to get playing time at a high level becomes an increasingly valuable resource.

Family as a determining factor

In addition to professional ambitions, a key argument in favor of extending the contract was the comfort for his loved ones. Sydorchuk emphasized that at a certain stage of a career, the choice stops being purely personal. "I clearly understand for myself that in family life, when such a moment comes, when you have to choose not only for yourself, but when you have to choose for your family. For me, there are more advantages to staying here, extending my contract and being an active footballer," he noted. Thus, the Belgian club and the city where he has been living since 2023 have become a stable environment for the Sydorchuk family, one he is not ready to trade for uncertainty.

Statistics and the path to Westerlo: from Dynamo to Belgium

Recall that Serhiy Sydorchuk moved to Westerlo in September 2023 after many years playing for Kyiv's Dynamo, with whom he won Ukrainian championships and the Europa League. The transfer fee was 700,000 euros. During his time at the Belgian club, the Ukrainian midfielder has played 61 matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Last season he made 16 appearances without any goal contributions, which indirectly confirms the player's own words that his role in the team is increasingly linked to organizing play and experience, rather than individual attacking actions.

Prospects: return to Ukraine and the end of his career

Previously, Sydorchuk told Dynamo's official website in an interview that he plans to return to Ukraine after his contract with Westerlo expires. Thus, extending the agreement with the Belgian club does not contradict his long-term intentions: he intends to play out the remaining term of his contract in Belgium while preserving the possibility of returning to his homeland. For a 35-year-old footballer who, in 2026, is still performing at the professional level in one of Europe's strongest leagues, each new season is a confirmation that the right balance between ambitions and family values allows a career to be extended at the highest level.