Who is Arsen Zakharyan? Chelsea's transfer target earning comparisons with Kevin De Bruyne

Stuart Telford

• 3 Nov 2022 09:11 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsen Zakharyan is determined to become the first signing of the Graham Potter era at Chelsea, but what else is there to know about Dynamo Moscow's Russia international?

Zakharyan was mean to move to Chelsea last year when Thomas Tuchel was still manager at Stamford Bridge, but the move fell through with FIFA putting sanctions on clubs signing Russian players amid Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

A 19-year-old attacking midfielder of Armenian extraction, Zakharyan was left bitterly disappointed, and he has remained vocal about his enduring intention to join Chelsea, even though they have since changed manager, and indeed ownership.

READ: Arsen Zakharyan to Chelsea: The latest

"I was stressed because I wanted this transfer," he said recently. "Right now I have Chelsea and I want to go to Chelsea. I know that other clubs are interested in me, I'm proud of that, but I want to go to Chelsea."

Zakharyan's intention is clear. What kind of player would the Blues be getting?

What position does Zakharyan play in?

Zakharyan is a right-footed attacking midfielder who tends to line up on the left for Dynamo Moscow and Russia, from where he can cut inside and create with his combination of technique and vision. His ability to play more than one position could suit Potter's style, though.

How good is Zakharyan?

At 6'0", Zakharyan is quite tall for a player in his position, but he is much more silk than steel as a player.

This season he has contributed three goals and six assists in all competitions for Dynamo, and it is the style of those assists - curved through-balls that few others would spot - that have earned comparison's with former Chelsea man Kevin De Bruyne, now of Manchester City.

READ: De Bruyne: I understand Sterling's Man City frustrations

What clubs are interested in Zakharyan?

As Zakharyan himself alludes to above, Chelsea aren't the only club in for him, and Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton were both previously credited with an interest.

It seems to be Chelsea or bust as far as the player is concerned, though.

When does Zakharyan's contract expire?

Zakharyan's current contract at the VTB Arena runs until 30 June 2024.

How old is Zakharyan?

Born on 26 May 2003, Zakharyan is 19 at the time of writing.

What is Zakharyan's Instagram?

Arsen Zakharyan's Instagram has 56.6K followers as of November 2022.