Veteran Taras Stepanenko Nears a Return to the Ukrainian Premier League with Kolos

Stepanenko's Potential Move to Kolos

According to Главком: Midfielder Taras Stepanenko, currently with Turkish Süper Lig side Eyüpspor, is close to joining Ukrainian Premier League club Kolos Kovalivka. The veteran player intends to sign with the club at least until the end of the current season. Kolos is considering either a loan deal or an early termination of his contract with the mid-table Turkish team. Stepanenko's contract with Eyüpspor runs until the summer of 2025, but Kolos is expected to register him for the season shortly. This potential move highlights the ongoing player movement between leagues as the season's decisive phase approaches.

Taras Stepanenko's Career Profile

Taras Stepanenko was born in Velyka Novosilka, a town currently under Russian occupation. A product of the Zaporizhzhia academies of Torpedo and Metalurh, he made his senior debut in the 2006/07 season. He initially played for Metalurh's reserve and first teams before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2010. Stepanenko spent nearly 15 years with Shakhtar, eventually becoming team captain. During his tenure, he won 10 Ukrainian Premier League titles, eight Ukrainian Cups, and seven Ukrainian Super Cups. The midfielder also earned 87 caps for the Ukrainian national team, scoring four goals, and participated in three European Championships.

Kolos entered the winter break in sixth place in the UPL, having earned 25 points from 16 matches under manager Ruslan Kostyshyn. However, the team started the second half of the season with a 0:2 home defeat to Polissya Zhytomyr and has since dropped to seventh place. Their next match is scheduled for March 1st against Lviv's Karpaty.

Signing Taras Stepanenko could significantly strengthen Kolos. His vast experience and leadership qualities could prove decisive in crucial matches, especially as the team aims to climb the league table. Having enjoyed a highly successful career with Shakhtar and on the international stage, Stepanenko is capable of bringing a positive influence to the squad, which would be a major asset for Kolos in the season's final stretch.