Stats! Hell yeah! That’s what I’m talking about.
We were loath to subscribe to Wyscout this year, given it is well over £600, but then we signed an unknown Ukrainian and realised it was essential. We wanted to know more about our boy, and we wanted to tell you more about him as well.
When City confirmed the signing of Ivan Varfolomeev from Slovan Liberec, plenty of fans were left scratching their heads. Okay, being an Under 21 international, hushed talk of a club record signing and coming from the Czech top flight suggested we’ve seen something worth having, but what have we seen?
The data from Varfolomeev’s 2024/25 season paints the picture of a midfielder still learning his trade but with some really promising traits. He played 1,725 minutes across league and cup last season, largely for Liberec in the Czech First League, and also picked up caps with Ukraine’s Under-21s.
While he’s not yet the finished article, the raw numbers highlight why City have taken the plunge.
A Midfield All-Rounder
The first thing that jumps out is the variety of positions he has filled. Right central midfield, left central midfield, deeper holding roles, and even wing-back (right, once) have all been listed against his name over the past year. That flexibility is something Michael Skubala will surely value, particularly in a squad where adaptability has become almost a hallmark. However, let’s be honest here, he’s been signed as a holding midfielder,
Despite the positional rotation, his game time wasn’t fragmented cameos. More often than not, he played 90 minutes or close to it, suggesting both trust from his coaches and a strong fitness base.
Ball Use and Distribution
Varfolomeev attempted over 550 passes across the season, with a success rate of just over 76%. That number doesn’t scream deep-lying playmaker, but nor does it suggest wastefulness. He tends to keep things simple, completing short and medium passes at a reliable rate. The longer he tries to go, the more the accuracy dips; his long passing was below 50% across the campaign.
In that sense, he isn’t someone who will regularly split a defence with a raking ball from deep, but he can keep possession ticking and recycle play effectively. The percentages hint at a player who does his best work in shorter combinations, perhaps better suited to progression through phases rather than attempting to force the killer ball. Someone who sits in front of the back four, creating moments for those ahead of him, cleaning up and doing the dirty work.
I do love a good defensive midfielder. Scott Kerr. Ethan Erhahon. Liam Bridcutt. For a time, Michael Bostwick. Lovely.
🔵 A debut outing for our away kit this weekend!
🛍️ Get yours now and make the most of free UK delivery until Sunday on away shirts.
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) August 22, 2025
Attacking Contribution
Going forward, the headline figures don’t leap off the page, which is just like the man he’s replacing. Just one goal and no assists in competitive club games suggest he won’t be an attacking midfielder who racks up direct goal contributions. His expected goals tally for the season sat at 0.78 — in other words, he wasn’t finding himself in prime scoring positions too often. Neither did Ethan.
When he did shoot, accuracy wasn’t bad (32% on target), but the sample size is small. He also tried a handful of crosses, with modest success. Again, the numbers tell us we’re not looking at a wide creator or someone who consistently bursts into the box. That one appearance at wing back is an outlier (sorry, ‘can he play left back’ brigade).
Instead, his attacking game seems more about supporting phases, being available for the ball, and occasionally driving forward. He attempted dribbles at a reasonable rate and succeeded in more than half, suggesting he does have the ability to carry the ball past an opponent when required.
Defensive Work and Tenacity
This is where his profile looks more compelling. Across the season, he contested 333 duels and came out on top in around 54%. That might not sound spectacular, but it’s actually strong – if you think about it, anything over 50% is decent. For a player of his age (or younger), that would put him 19th overall in League One currently.
He was particularly involved on the ground, and while not dominant in the air, he didn’t shirk aerial challenges either. Interceptions are another positive: 86 across the campaign. He reads the game well, stepping into passing lanes and breaking things up before they develop. For a young midfielder, that level of anticipation is encouraging. Recoveries in the opposition half were also high — 171 in total. That suggests he presses with intensity, winning the ball back high and trying to keep his team on the front foot.
If Skubala continues with a system that values energy and pressing triggers, Varfolomeev’s numbers point to someone who will thrive in that setup.
😍 Go behind the scenes with us on Ivan’s first day as an Imp!
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) August 21, 2025
Discipline and Development
One area to watch might be his discipline. Eight yellow cards in under 2,000 minutes hint at a combative style that sometimes crosses the line. He isn’t reckless in terms of red cards, but he clearly picks up bookings with some regularity. That can be tidied up with coaching, but it’s worth noting he doesn’t shy away from a challenge. That said, I’d rather bookings for challenges than for yapping off at a referee, so hopefully nobody teaches him ‘what the eff was that ref’ in English, or indeed Glaswegian.
The overall picture is of a young player who isn’t yet polished in any one area but is oozing with potential. He’s not a goalscoring midfielder, nor a pure creator, but he is a hard-working, flexible operator who tackles, intercepts, presses, and links play.
What It Means for the Imps
From an Imps perspective, this looks like another signing that fits the model — young, with international pedigree at an age-group level, and with experience in a respectable European league. Despite the price, his arrival shouldn’t be seen as a marquee name to instantly transform the side, but he adds depth, energy, and potential resale value. Make no mistake, though, this is a big signing, a leap forward for us.
He may take time to adapt to the rhythm of English football, but the data shows a player worth investing in. If he continues to develop his passing range and keeps reading of the game as well as the stats suggest, we could have a quietly effective addition on our hands.