Polissia Star Hutsuliak Leaves Ukraine in Search of a New Club

Oleksii Hutsuliak’s Quest for a New Team

According to Главком: Ukrainian national team winger Oleksii Hutsuliak has temporarily left the country and is currently abroad, scouting for a new club. After playing last season for Zhytomyr-based Polissia, he declined to extend his partnership with the team once the campaign ended. Hutsuliak and his agent are actively exploring opportunities with European clubs. Polissia’s head coach, Ruslan Rotan, did not include Hutsuliak in the squad for the team’s training camp in Austria, confirming the player’s decision to move on. Oleksii Hutsuliak is now a free agent.

Over the past season, Hutsuliak appeared in 31 matches, netting 9 goals and providing 7 assists. His transfer value is estimated at 3.5 million euros.

Signing of Leandro Andrade

Meanwhile, Polissia has signed Cape Verdean winger Leandro Andrade on a permanent transfer from Azerbaijan’s Qarabag. The contract with Andrade runs through the end of June 2029.

• Leandro Andrade, who also holds Portuguese citizenship, will wear the number 11 jersey.
• During his time with Qarabag, he played 213 matches, scoring 60 goals and delivering 61 assists.
• Andrade has experience in the group stages and playoffs of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
• Since 2022, he has been called up to the Cape Verde national team, earning 7 caps and participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.

In the 2025/26 season, Polissia secured bronze medals in the Ukrainian Premier League and is now preparing for the Conference League qualifiers, where they will face Copenhagen on July 23 and 30. Their first fixture in the 2026/27 UPL season is against Chornomorets, scheduled for August 1. Hutsuliak is 28 years old at the time of his departure, while Andrade is 26.

The search for a new team underscores Hutsuliak’s ambition to advance his career on the international stage, with his agent actively working in European football circles. At the same time, Andrade’s signing highlights Polissia’s intent to strengthen their roster ahead of critical matches in European competitions and the domestic league. This could mark a pivotal moment for the club’s growth and its future aspirations.

As Oleksii Hutsuliak embarks on his journey to find a new club, Polissia is simultaneously enhancing its squad with fresh talent. The recent acquisition of Leandro Andrade not only strengthens the team's offensive capabilities but also highlights the club's ambition in the upcoming season. For more details on Andrade's impressive track record and his potential impact on Polissia, check out this article about the club's strategic signings here.