Mykola Matvienko

Mykola Matvienko is a Ukrainian centre-back born in Saky on 2 May 1996. He developed at Shakhtar Donetsk, signed his first professional contract there in 2013, and joined the senior squad in 2015. Matvienko made his senior debut against Chornomorets Odesa in October 2015 before gaining regular first-team experience on loan at Karpaty Lviv in 2016/17 and Vorskla Poltava in 2017/18. Returning to Shakhtar in 2017, he established himself as a central defender while also offering cover at left-back. His game combines anticipation, interceptions and composed left-footed distribution, helping Shakhtar build through pressure. Matvienko made his Ukraine debut against Croatia in March 2017 and played every minute of the team’s run to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals. He remains part of Shakhtar Donetsk’s squad and was included in Ukraine’s Euro 2024 team.