Roma have opened preliminary contact with Shakhtar Donetsk over 26-year-old right-back Yukhym Konoplya, the club and representatives of the player have indicated in recent days.
Konoplya, a 1999-born full international for Ukraine, has not renewed his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk and has told those around him he intends to move abroad. His current deal runs until the end of September, and his departure could be resolved by an agreement between clubs before then or materialize in January when he would be available as a free agent.
The numbers underline why Konoplya has attracted attention. He has played 109 matches for Shakhtar, scoring seven goals and providing fifteen assists. This season he has made 22 appearances, scored two goals and supplied four assists. For the Ukraine national team he has 27 appearances and two goals. In the Ukrainian league specifically he has two goals and three assists.
Interest is not limited to Roma. Torino, Fiorentina and Valencia are among the clubs that have been linked to the 26-year-old, and Valencia is reported to be keeping a close watch on his situation. During the last winter transfer window Sassuolo submitted an offer of around €1 million for Konoplya, but that deal fell through.
Those figures create a friction point. Market estimates place Konoplya’s value at about five million euros, yet past transfer approaches have been far below that mark. With no renewal on the table and multiple clubs circling, Shakhtar faces a decision between selling for a fee now or allowing Konoplya to run down his contract and leave at minimal cost.
Roma’s outreach comes as the club prepares for likely turnover at right-back: they are facing a probable departure of Celik when his contract expires. That vacancy, combined with Konoplya’s availability and international experience, explains the renewed interest. Clubs in Italy and Spain have made contact at various points this year, and Konoplya’s expressed desire to move abroad has sharpened those approaches.
How a transfer would be executed remains open. If Shakhtar and a buyer agree terms before September’s deadline, the move could be completed on a transfer fee. If no agreement is reached, Konoplya could become available on a free move in January under the scenario being discussed by his camp and potential suitors. Either path carries different financial logic for clubs weighing immediate reinforcement against longer negotiation and the risk of losing the player for nothing.
The low bid from Sassuolo during the winter window underscores that interest does not automatically translate into lucrative offers. Clubs that want Konoplya will need to reconcile their valuation with Shakhtar’s assessment and the player’s own timetable. For Konoplya, who has combined domestic consistency with regular national-team involvement, the coming weeks represent a choice between taking an immediate move negotiated by the clubs or waiting for freer options once his contract runs down.
Whatever route unfolds, the decision will shape Roma’s right-back picture next season and define the practical value of Konoplya’s remaining months at Shakhtar Donetsk. If Roma presses its preliminary contact into a firm proposal, the crucial question will be whether Shakhtar can and will convert a market interest into a workable transfer before the end of September.
For Yukhym Konoplya the moment is simple: he has made clear he intends to leave and has not renewed his deal. His next choice—accepting an agreement now or running his contract to its end—will determine whether clubs such as Roma, Torino, Fiorentina or Valencia negotiate a fee or wait to sign him later as a free agent.
