Sligo Rovers have added a second Estonian international player to their ranks with attacking midfielder Bogdan Vastsuk joining from Polish top flight outfit Stal Mielec.
Vastsuk, who has signed a two-year deal with an option of a third year, recently played World Cup qualifiers and Nations League games with his country as part of 11 caps so far.
He featured for another former club, Levadia Tallinn, against Dundalk in the Europa Conference League two years ago, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at Tallaght Stadium.
The 27-year-old joined Reading in England in 2015 before moving to Latvian side Riga. Bastsuk returned to his native Estonia to play with Levadia, where he played alongside current Rovers' winger Frank Liivak in the Estonian Premier Division from 2019 to 2022 before a transfer to Stal Mielec in the Polish top-tier.
Bit O’ Red Manager John Russell has already a cosmopolitan look to his squad for this season as is tradition at the club, already bringing in German player Fabrice Hartmann, Swede Johan Brannefalk and Lukas Browning who was born in Ireland but spent much of his career in Sweden.
Russell is a keen admirer of new man Vastsuk: "Bogdan is a player I’ve been tracking for some time and I’m delighted we’ve managed to bring him to the club.
"He is a current Estonian international, he is an attacking midfielder who is very creative and he is exactly the type of player we need.
"Bogdan is physically strong, has a great ability to go past players, can score goals and has a real willingness to work hard for the team.
"He comes to us at a great stage in his career and I know he is looking forward to this new challenge in Ireland.
"I think our supporters will enjoy watching him play."
Bastsuk arrived in Sligo today as pre-season began in full at the club ahead of their SSE Airtricity League of Ireland opener with Shamrock Rovers on 18 February.
He said: "I’m very happy to join this great club.
"I am looking forward to seeing all the fans at the stadium soon. I have heard a lot about it.
"I’ve watched some games from last season and, I see the quality in the team and, I think we can go far this season.
"The club has shown me project here and I spoke with the manager and his staff and, I see the club with high ambitions so, I’m very happy to join the team and I will give 100% each game."
