Winger of “Polesie” and the Ukrainian national team Alexey Gutsulyak was suspended from the first team of the Zhytomyr club and transferred to the U-19 squad, reports the press service of the Zhytomyr team. A similar decision was made regarding central defender Sergei Chobotenko after the breakdown of negotiations on new contracts.

Polesie stated that they had been negotiating with the players for a long time and offered them new contracts on improved terms with revised salaries, a bonus system and a clear understanding of their role in the team for several seasons to come, but the players did not accept these offers.

As a result, the management and coaching staff made a management decision not to involve Gutsulyak and Chobotenko in preparing the main team for the second part of the season.

The club’s official statement emphasizes that this is solely a sporting and strategic step, and all contractual obligations to the players will be fulfilled until the end of the existing agreements, which expire on June 30, 2026. At the same time, Polesie made it clear that they are relying on players who connect their future with the club and are ready to be part of its long-term development.

The situation around Gutsulyak received special resonance due to his status in the national team. In 2025, the winger became Ukraine's top-scoring player with eight strikes and was seen as one of the key wild cards ahead of the playoffs for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup..

At the end of December, information appeared that Gutsulyak, through his agent, was seeking to almost double the contract. We are talking about an amount of over 100 thousand dollars monthly, which significantly exceeds current conditions.