Shevchenko's son signs for seventh tier side

What the report says

Kristian Shevchenko, the 19-year-old son of former Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko, has joined seventh-tier Sholing FC on a permanent deal, BBC Sport Football reports. The Southampton-based non-league club said the move follows Kristian’s time in the academies of Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford.

According to BBC Sport, Shevchenko had most recently been with Watford’s under-21 side before being released in May. Sholing manager Paul Doswell said the club’s revised recruitment approach, which focuses on giving young players released by professional academies a chance in senior football, helped bring the deal together. He said staff connections in academy football were also part of the process.

The report adds that Sholing have notable figures linked to the club’s development, including Chelsea and England defender Levi Colwill as associate director and community ambassador, and Hull City player Matt Targett’s younger brother Brad, who plays for the club. The signing is notable because it places the son of one of Ukraine’s most famous footballers into the non-league game as he looks to continue his career.

Andriy Shevchenko, who played for AC Milan, Chelsea and Dynamo Kyiv, retired in 2012 after a decorated career that included the 2003 Champions League and the 2004 Ballon d’Or.