Artem Smolyakov (Photo by polissyafc.com)
Sources have confirmed to RG that Artem Smolyakov will join Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC for a fee of $2 million when the US transfer window opens on January 31.
Born in Baranivka, Ukraine on May 29, 2003, Smolyakov developed at the academy of FC Dnipro, only to end up leaving after its dissolution. He joined Ukrainian Premier League side FC Inhulets Petrove in August 2020 and eventually made his professional debut on November 28, 2021 in a 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar.
Having made just two brief cameos in the 2021/22 campaign, Smolyakov burst onto the scene during the 2022/23 season, becoming a regular contributor at left back and left midfielder. He quickly became one of the first names on the team sheet, racking up 2 goals and 2 assists in 30 appearances. It was around this period that Smolyakov also became a starter for Ukraine’s U-21 side, registering 10 appearances for the team thus far.
Smolyakov departed for newly promoted FC Polissya Zhytomyr in the summer of 2023, where he continued to stake his claim as one of the top defensive prospects in Ukraine. He managed 1 goal and 1 assist in 24 appearances and ranked atop the entire squad for interceptions per game (4.8) and third for clearances per game (2.4). It’s been more of the same this season for Smolyakov, who is represented by the London-based ProStar agency. The Ukraine U21 international has registered one goal in 19 appearances across all competitions and even deputized as a right back and a right winger on occasion, and he sits third in their squad for interceptions per 90 (3.8) and clearances per 90 (2.7).
And yet, when Polissya kick off the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on February 22, Smolyakov won’t be there – he’ll be in California. Smolyakov is set to depart his motherland for the first time in his career and join LAFC for $2 million. And when he does sign his long-term contract with the Black and Gold, he’ll become the third Ukrainian player in the league after Columbus Crew’s Yevgen Cheberko and Austin FC’s Oleksandr Svatok.
As opposed to Cheberko and Svatok, Smolyakov isn’t a center back, but an attack-minded left back who thrives at bursting forward into the final third, whipping in a tantalizing cross, and testing the goalkeeper with a ferocious effort from long range. Standing 1.8m, Smolyakov doesn’t shy away from physical challenges, and he has the pace to charge forward before sprinting back and recovering in time to put in a tackle.
“Smolyakov is a versatile fullback who can operate on either side, but is more comfortable down the left flank,” said Ukrainian football expert Andrew Todos to RG. “He’s a pacey player with good positional play who likes bursting up the pitch and has a wonder goal in his locker. “Smolyakov is a consistent performer and a hard worker who does a lot of running down the flank and who is pretty good with his duels. Perhaps he needs to improve his attacking return from crosses if he’s going to be deployed as a wing-back, but he’s a good player who can develop further.
He’s consistently played in the Ukrainian top-flight for the past three seasons and rarely gets injured.”
LAFC enjoyed an impressive 2024 campaign, beating Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup Final, losing to Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup Final. They were one of five MLS teams to qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup after finishing with the best regular season record in the MLS Western Conference. However, after narrowly edging Vancouver Whitecaps across three legs in the first round of the playoffs, they succumbed to an extra-time defeat to Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference semifinals.
During the final months of the season, LAFC manager Steven Cherundolo set his team up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Omar Campos (22) or Ryan Hollingshead (33) typically operating in the left wingback position. However, with Campos heading to Liga MX side Cruz Azul during the offseason, LAFC needed a new fullback to challenge Hollingshead for the starting spot. There’s every reason to believe that Smolyakov can give the American veteran a run for his money and push for consistent first-team minutes in the City of Angels.
Smolyakov has emerged as an indispensable figure on the left side of defense for Ukraine’s U-21 side and is expected to represent his country in the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which will take place in Slovakia between June 11 and June 28. His promising displays at the youth level have led many supporters to believe that he can challenge Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko for the starting spot for the Ukraine senior team. However, for now, Smolyakov’s focus will shift towards making a home for himself on the other side of the world, settling into his new surroundings, and adjusting to life in MLS.
Zach Lowy
