Sunderland sign third Ukrainian as they lure Chelsea starlet

Sunderland have continued to boost their youth ranks by raiding Chelsea for a highly-ranked Ukrainian.

Sunderland have added a third Ukrainian to their ranks with teenager Ivan Struk to compete a move from Chelsea for next season.

The 16-year-old central midfielder has signed a pre-scholarship with the Black Cats, who he has already represented at under 18s level, and will officially join the club in the summer.

Struk joined Chelsea in December following a trial that also included the son of former Milan and Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko. Nine players were picked out by the scouts, but only Struk was signed by the Londoners.

He will now join Sunderland’s existing Ukrainian contingent of Nazarij Rusyn and Timur Tuterov on Wearside as he attempts to transition through the ranks at the club.

Struk is from a football family and is the third generation within it to make inroads into the sport.

His father, Igor Struk, played for Chortkiv Krystal and Ternopil Niva while his father, Ivan Snr, turned out for Kristall and Ivano-Frankivsk Spartak.

After earning his Chelsea contract, Igor Snr gave a little insight into his Grandson and revealed the two Manchester clubs had been keen to sign him as well.

Ivan Struk has left Chelsea to join Sunderland.

Understand the 16-year-old has agreed a pre-scholarship with the Black Cats, who made his U18s debut last month. He will officially sign from next season. #CFC #SAFC pic.twitter.com/7wO2fqxcHw

— Nathan Gissing (@NathGissing) November 5, 2023

“We instilled in Ivan a love for football as a child,” Igor Snr. said. “My son and I worked hard to make Ivan grow up to be a good football player. He is very persistent and purposeful: he has set a goal and is on his way to it.

“He had invitations to visit Manchester United and Manchester City, and it was far away, so we chose Chelsea.

“I would like to see my grandson in the Ukrainian football team. However, in order to get to the national team, a lot of work still needs to be done.”

Struk has already played for Sunderland at youth level and posted a video on his own YouTube channel. 

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