16-year-old Maksym Tsymbaliuk with his first professional contract

Sixteen-year-old Maksym Tsymbaliuk committed his future to the White Star today. The young midfielder, hailing from Ukraine, signed his first professional contract, which runs until June 30, 2026. The agreement also includes the option to extend for another season. "This is something very special for me, because it brings with it new footballing challenges," Wiślak said of signing his first professional contract.

Born on May 8, 2007, Maksym Tsymbaliuk began his football career with SK Dnipro-1 in his native Ukraine. Unfortunately, due to the war that began in 2022 across our eastern border, he was forced to leave his homeland, settling in Poland. He joined Wisła Kraków that same year, and made his first appearance with the White Star in the second half of the 2021/2022 season for the CLJ U-15 team.

In the following league campaign, he was a player in a higher age group, playing at the Central Junior League (U-17) level. Tsymbaliuk made four appearances at that level during that period, also playing in the B1 provincial league, making 14 appearances and scoring four goals. This season, the Ukrainian midfielder was again featured in the U-17 CLJ, but his excellent form resulted in a call-up to Wisła's oldest team in the Central Junior League. Tsymbaliuk has made seven appearances for the U-19 team this season. He also made seven appearances for the U-17 team, scoring twice.

Full readiness

A first professional contract is a special moment for a young player. This 16-year-old shared his feelings with us after signing his contract. The young player also spoke about his journey so far in the U-19 age group.

"I'm very happy to have signed my first professional contract with Wisła Kraków. This is something very special for me, as it brings with it further footballing challenges," said Tsymbaliuk.

"Beginnings can be difficult, and this was no different. At the start, it was difficult to find my place in this team, but the coaches and teammates constantly supported me, and over time I adapted to the higher age category. Now I feel I'm 100 percent ready for this level," the player said.

Goals and strengths

"I definitely consider quick decision-making to be my strength on the pitch. I'm also good at passing through the third third of the pitch, into the opponent's penalty area," said the 16-year-old.

"In the spring season, I want to get as many minutes on the pitch as possible. I also want to score as many goals as possible and provide my teammates with as many good passes as possible, which will result in assists. As for the team's goal, it is, of course, to stay in the Central Junior League. If I have to rotate, I'm always ready to support my U-17 teammates. I also believe the team will finish first at the end of the season," the young midfielder predicts.

The war that began in Ukraine forced many citizens to leave their homes. The young Wisła player briefly described that time and assured that, thanks to the club's support, his family's situation is improving.

"I came to Poland with my mother. It wasn't easy at first, but we always appreciated the peace and the fact that there's no war here. Of course, I still miss my father and the rest of my family very much. It was difficult because I didn't speak the language, but thanks to the support from the club, everything became easier over time," he concluded.

Hard work and maturity on the pitch

The young midfielder's performances caught the attention of the U-19 team, which gave him the opportunity to begin training with Wisła's oldest team, which plays at the Central Junior League level. The Ukrainian has already played seven matches for coach Karol Nędza's team, and in several of them, the coach chose him from the start.

"Maksym started this season playing for the U-17 team, but he showed great promise and, at the recommendation of coach Patryk Jałocha, was included in my team's training sessions at the beginning of the season. He also started the spring season playing at a really high level, which resulted in him being in the starting eleven in his first matches and he's still performing very well. Maksym has made significant progress, earning himself a place in the starting lineup despite being a younger player," says Karol Nędza.
"I can only speak highly of Maksym. He's a very hard-working guy and a great teammate. From what we've discussed, he's capable of achieving a lot on the pitch. His approach to training and responsibilities is commendable. Maksym has already demonstrated his maturity on the pitch. Despite his young age, he doesn't play nervously, sees a lot of the pitch, has accurate passes, and knows how to find his way between the lines. When it comes to commitment, he always leaves a lot of heart on the pitch. He's having a good time, and I'd like it to last as long as possible," said the U-19 coach.

Maksym, congratulations and good luck!