As previously reported, the defender of Kyiv’s «Dynamo» Maksym Diachuk will continue his career at the Polish «Lechia» in Gdańsk. The local website Lechia.net dedicated a publication to the Dynamo player.
Maksym Diachuk (photo: Y. Yuriev)According to information that appeared yesterday, Maksym Diachuk is already in Gdańsk, where the details of his loan to «Lechia» for one year are being finalized. The central defender of Kyiv’s «Dynamo» has been among the potential newcomers to the Polish club for almost two weeks, and his arrival indicates that the transfer is in its final stages. In this regard, it's worth taking a closer look at the 21-year-old Ukrainian. Who is Maksym Diachuk and what to expect from him?
Height — 187 centimeters, strong legs, and a no less strong character. Not long ago, he was called the «Ukrainian Maguire». Maksym Diachuk, a native of Transcarpathia, two years ago made it to the list of the 100 most promising footballers in Europe according to Golden Boy 2023 — at 54th place. Losing his place in the starting lineup of «Dynamo», he decided to prove his value at «Lechia» and hopes that he will find his form again here.
Graduate of a sports school in Rakhiv and the «Dynamo» academy: youth career
Diachuk was born on July 21, 2003. He took his first football steps in a sports school in Rakhiv, where he quickly attracted the attention of Dynamo Kyiv scouts. At just 16, he debuted for the U-19 team, where he played consistently for several seasons. In the 2020/2021 season, he played 20 matches, scored 4 goals, and received 7 yellow cards. He showed himself to be an aggressive, physically strong, yet somewhat impulsive defender. In the following season (2021/2022), which was interrupted by Russia's full-scale invasion, he played 17 matches, receiving positive feedback for his aerial play and confidence in defense.
During that period, he earned the nickname «Ukrainian Maguire» — both for his style of play and physical characteristics, as well as for the expectations that began to be placed on him. This, of course, added pressure but also pointed to his potential.
Transition to adult football: a difficult path
In the 2022/2023 season, Maksym went on loan to «Oleksandriya», a UPL club, where he played only 6 matches. In the spring, he returned to «Dynamo» — after the club sold Illia Zabarnyi to English «Bournemouth» for 29 million euros. Coach Mircea Lucescu decided to bet on Diachuk — a young yet strong defender with good aerial skills. Thus, he debuted for the first team. He played a total of 14 matches but quickly faced challenges at the adult level — positioning issues, loss of orientation in the penalty area, and several mistakes that cost the team points.
However, Diachuk remained in the squad until the end of the season and gained playing experience. In the 2023/2024 season, he played 19 matches, scored 1 goal, and received 4 yellow cards. His strengths — power, aerial ability, and dedication — were evident, but he lacked consistency and class to become irreplaceable.
Season 2024/2025: competition, injury, and loss of position
The new season was supposed to be breakthrough, but everything did not go as planned. The talented 19-year-old Taras Mykhavko joined the «Dynamo» lineup — left-footed, fast, and technical. His appearance pushed Denys Popov from the left center-back position to the right, and Diachuk lost his starting place. Moreover, his competitor became his peer, Kristian Bilovar — a versatile and stable player.
Thus, Maksym found himself as the third and sometimes even fourth choice in the center of defense. In the winter of 2025, there were rumors of a loan to the Spanish «Real Zaragoza», but the deal did not go through. Soon after, he suffered an injury — in a Champions League match against «Partizan» he broke his collarbone, sidelining him for two months.
After this appearance, the «Dynamo» legend Maksym Shatskikh stated:
«Diachuk is a man of principles. If needed — he will go head-to-head. He is a true fighter».
Words that perfectly describe his character. Even when he lacked form, he was never criticized for courage and dedication.
Player profile: strength, aerial play, and growth potential
Maksym Diachuk is a classic central defender: right-footed, physically strong, and good in the air. Reliable on set pieces both in defense and in attack. He has a strong mentality and a good connection with the fans — in Kyiv, he had full support from fans and ultras.
This is a player with character, who «does not back down». At the same time, he is still very young and inexperienced, so he needs playing time. If he demonstrates in training the same determination he showed before, under the guidance of John Carver at «Lechia», he can very well become a leader in defense.
Marcin Ziembiński
