'I love it at Lincoln City but I worry about my family in Ukraine'

Ivan Varfolomeev arrived in England unable to speak the language and with the pressure of being Lincoln City's record signing at the time.

But having been able to leave Ukraine in 2022 to continue his football career in the Czech Republic, the midfielder went on to play a key role in the Imps' title-winning season last year, helping them secure promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in 65 years.

Speaking to the BBC 12 months after signing for the club, the 22-year-old said he was enjoying his new life in Lincoln but it was hard being away from his family.

"When I said to my family, 'Lincoln City want to buy me', my family was very happy," he said. "My family live in Ukraine... It's very dangerous to live there but I call my family every day."

"Every day is a different situation. It's very hard now, but I will say thank you for England because England helped Ukraine a lot, and I really appreciate this."

Varfolomeev, who was born in Crimea, moved with his family to Lviv, in western Ukraine, more than a decade ago but left to play in the Czech Republic when he was 18.

It followed Russia's full-scale invasion of his country.

He played for Slovan Liberec for three years before heading to Sincil Bank.

He has been taking English lessons, and he said his teammates had helped him settle into life in a new country.

"When I came to England I knew a couple of words. Now my English is better because every day I speak with the guys," he said.

"My teacher [has also] helped me a lot and now I can speak English with players, with coaches and fans."

Varfolomeev has represented his country at youth level and says he dreams of playing for the senior international side.

Andrew Todos, founder of Ukrainian football website Zorya Londonsk, said Varfolomeev was an inspiration.

"I think it is inspiring for players and youngsters to go, 'Hey, if Ivan can go and he's not afraid [then] I could, down the line'.

"When you look at Ivan as a person, how hard working he is – even away from football he hates days off – I think he is very much a model pro.

"The way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, I think he is very much the standard flagbearer for future Ukrainian talent."

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