Yehor Tverdokhlib (Photo by fcminaj)
Yehor Tverdokhlib ended the 2024/25 Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) season exactly as he started it: by finding the back of the net. He broke the deadlock within a half-hour, rising above the rest and nodding home a corner kick for FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. However, hosts Polissya equalized after halftime through Uruguayan attacker Facundo Batista, securing a 1-1 draw on May 25. With this result, Polissya clinched fourth place and guaranteed their spot in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, finishing one point ahead of fifth-placed Kryvbas, who narrowly missed out on European competition.
It marked yet another milestone for Tverdokhlib, who, after patiently climbing through Ukraine’s lower leagues, has become one of the breakout stars in the country’s top-flight. This surge in form could soon see him depart Ukraine for the first time, as clubs from England, Austria, Germany, and Poland have shown interest.
“My number one goal for 2025 is to make the next step. The top priority is going to one of Europe’s top five leagues, ideally the Bundesliga,” said Tverdokhlib in an exclusive interview with RG. “Of course, we have to be realistic, and I know that I will need to adapt, but I’m ready for the next challenge. It’s difficult to make the jump from the Ukrainian Premier League to a top-five league, but at the same time, we’re not talking about big leaps, but consistent steps. We’re fully focused on taking smaller steps to reach the ultimate goal.”
Climbing the Ladder
Born in Borova, a rural settlement in the Kyiv Oblast, Tverdokhlib grew up playing football with his three brothers and quickly developed a passion for the sport. After a brief stint in the youth ranks of Dynamo Kyiv, he moved to Chayka Vyshhorod’s academy in 2014. After five years there, he joined amateur side Atlet Kyiv, where he began his rise to professional football by scoring 13 goals in just four months.
His exploits in semi-professional football caught the attention of second-division FC Hirnyk-Sport Horishni Plavni, who signed him on a free transfer in January 2020. Though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his breakthrough, Tverdokhlib soon became a regular starter during Project Restart, excelling in various positions, from attacking midfielder to center forward. His development accelerated in the 2020/21 season, netting five goals and providing three assists in 27 appearances.
His impressive performances continued into the 2021/22 season, during which he even wore the captain’s armband and scored against Metalist Kharkiv. This form led to a transfer to top-flight side FC Minaj in Zakarpattia Oblast, where he expected to make his mark—but fate had other plans.
Football Amid War
A day before the second half of the 2021/22 season was set to resume, Russia invaded Ukraine, bringing the nation—and its sports—to a standstill.
“We’re living in a constant state of uncertainty—you never know where the rockets will strike,” said Tverdokhlib. “The sirens start sounding, and you wonder if it’ll hit you. I live in Kryvyi Rih, and recently rockets struck around 500 meters from my home. But nothing compares to what I experienced at the start of the war when I feared for my girlfriend, parents, and loved ones. Russian forces were advancing into the Kyiv region, where my family was, while I was in Uzhhorod. That was the most terrifying moment of my life—fearing for their lives. Thankfully, everyone in my family is safe, but funerals have become a daily reality in my hometown.”
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has become Europe’s biggest war and largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over 300,000 fatalities on both sides and more than 10 million displaced Ukrainians.
Among those fighting for Ukraine is Yehor’s older brother Nazar.
“Mentally, it’s tough to focus fully on football when your loved ones are risking their lives,” Tverdokhlib explained. “You constantly think, ‘I need to call my brother, ask if he’s safe.’ But everyone must play their role. My brother understands and supports me. Our meetings are rare—he only gets two weeks of vacation per year. But that’s our reality. We meet two or three times a year, and when he’s off, he always comes to my games, which means a lot to me. Through football, we offer him and his fellow soldiers moments of respite from the harsh realities they face daily."
Despite these immense challenges, Tverdokhlib hasn’t merely endured; he’s thrived. After waiting another six months for his top-flight debut, he quickly became indispensable at Minaj, tallying five goals and four assists in 30 matches during the 2022/23 season. His versatility and footballing intelligence have allowed him to shine as an attacking midfielder and perform capably on either wing, as well as in central midfield and striker roles.
Pressure Creates Diamonds
A lifelong Real Madrid fan, Tverdokhlib has modeled aspects of his game after Jude Bellingham, and it’s not hard to see the similarities between him and the Englishman. Capable of blazing through opposing midfields with his close control and impressive upper-body balance, Tverdokhlib has a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time and tapping in from close range. He displays an ice-cold mentality in his finishing, as well as a sharp ability to track the ball and strike sublime volleys. Standing at 1.82 meters, he possesses a physical approach and powerful jumping ability, allowing him to soar above defenders and score with bullet headers. Never neglecting his defensive obligations, Tverdokhlib sets an example through stamina and work rate, consistently raising the bar for teammates with his efforts both on and off the ball.
“Your physicality can prepare you for the short term, but your mentality and psychological state determine your long-term growth.
It’s about developing every day and becoming better every day…I don’t intend on taking a pause. Football is a game that doesn’t allow you to stop. When you’ve stopped, someone who is running a lot slower can overtake you. That’s why I’m constantly staying on the pitch after practice, working on my finishing, and speaking to the tactical analysts and assistant coaches.”
Embracing the Challenge
Tverdokhlib departed Minaj in January 2024, penning a four-year contract with FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. Unlike his previous three moves, all free transfers, this transaction cost Kryvbas €300,000. It wasn’t easy transitioning from regularly playing the full 90 minutes to frequently being an unused substitute, but Tverdokhlib patiently awaited his chance. On the penultimate matchday of the 2023/24 campaign, he received his first start and seized the opportunity by scoring in a 3-1 loss to Dynamo Kyiv, then assisting in a 3-0 victory against Minaj on the season’s final day.
After an encouraging preseason, he was unleashed in the starting lineup for the 2024/25 opener against Chornomorets Odesa, opening the scoring within six minutes in a 1-0 victory. Tverdokhlib continued to battle for a regular starting spot, gradually biding his time before exploding with seven goals in five matches beginning in early November, earning him the Ukrainian Player of the Month honors for November and December. He returned from the winter break with renewed hunger, scoring in three of Kryvbas’s first five matches of 2025 and sparking an unexpected push for European football. On May 7, after scoring twice in a 4-0 win over FC Livvy Bereh, Tverdokhlib broke Ihor Nichenko’s 32-year club record for the most goals scored in a single UPL campaign, taking his tally to 13 goals.
“Statistically speaking, it’s obviously the best season of my career, but I still see room for improvement. I feel I have many more pages to write in Ukrainian and, hopefully, European football. My entire life revolves around football—thinking about how to eat correctly, sleep, rest, activate my muscles, and recover after training to maintain peak condition. Football isn’t just my job; it’s my life in every dimension.”
The Next Big Leap
It has been a stellar campaign for Tverdokhlib, who led the UPL in scoring frequency with one goal every 120 minutes; only Dynamo Kyiv’s Vladyslav Vanat (17 goals) found the net more regularly. Already having played for six Ukrainian clubs, Tverdokhlib has risen from amateur football to become one of the league’s emerging stars, transforming his scoring record from 14 goals in 111 appearances to 14 goals in just 28 appearances this season.
Yet, despite his sensational performances—and even amid Ukraine star Mykhailo Mudryk’s provisional suspension since December after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance—national team manager Serhiy Rebrov overlooked him for the international squad this month. At 24, Tverdokhlib has yet to represent Ukraine at any age level.
“The key word regarding the national team is stability. I’ve never dreamed of just being included once or twice…
For me, it’s about stability and consistent playing time. I want to maintain a high level of performance; I want to become a regular national team player, not just a passenger on a train that comes and goes.”
Though his international debut will wait until at least September, a lucrative transfer could soon materialize for Tverdokhlib—either abroad or to one of Ukraine’s wealthier clubs. Despite playing for a team with fewer financial resources, Tverdokhlib has proven his mettle, outscoring established stars like Shakhtar’s Georgiy Sudakov. With clubs across Europe expressing interest, it appears only a matter of time before he leaves Kryvbas for brighter lights. The only question remains: where?
Zach Lowy is a freelance football journalist who has written for leading outlets like FotMob, BetUS, Apuestas Deportivas, and who has appeared as a radio and television guest for BBC, SiriusXMFC, and various other platforms. After pursuing a global sports journalism degree at George Washington University, Zach has been able to tap into his multilingual background and interview major footballing figures in Spanish and Portuguese as well as operate the weekly podcast 'Zach Lowy's European Football Show' on BET Central.
