Lincoln sign Varfolomeyev for record transfer fee

Ivan Varfolomeyev becomes Lincoln's fourth summer signing

Lincoln City have signed Ukrainian midfielder Ivan Varfolomeyev from Czech side Slovan Liberec for a club-record transfer fee.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire understands the Imps have paid about £350,000 for Varfolomeyev, which would surpass the club's previous record fee paid for John Akinde in 2018.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Crimea, made his first-team debut for Ukrainian top-flight club Rukh Lviv against Shakhtar Donetsk in February 2021.

He moved to Slovan Liberec a year later, and last season established himself as an important squad player, making 20 league appearances.

He has seven caps for Ukraine Under-21s.

Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala told BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Red Imps Club podcast that Varfolomeyev was a player of "great promise" and highlighted his pedigree with his under-21 experience.

"Our recruitment team have been keeping tabs on him for quite a while, and it's good to bring an exciting young talent into the building," he said.

Varfolomeyev becomes Lincoln's fourth signing of the summer window, joining Sonny Bradley, Ryley Towler and Everton loanee Francis Okoronkwo at Sincil Bank.

"It's always been the intention of the board to support the team and get bodies back after all our outgoings," Skubala said.

"We said we needed to get the right ones in and it's taken a bit longer but the board's definitely backing what we need to do."