Artem Dovbyk might have been La Liga’s leading scorer, but he’s still not widely recognized throughout Europe. However, his transfer to AS Roma could significantly enhance his profile.
Read More: Real Madrid Becomes the First Football Club to Surpass 1 Billion Euros in Revenue
Artem Dovbyk’s Historic Season: From Pichichi Trophy to Girona’s European Dreams
Artem Dovbyk’s final shot of the 2023-24 season was unforgettable. The striker converted a penalty in the 90th minute during Girona’s 7-0 triumph over Granada on the season’s last day, bringing his La Liga goal tally to 24 and securing the Pichichi trophy. This achievement was notable as it marked the first time in 15 years that La Liga’s top scorer award went to a player from outside Barcelona or Real Madrid, with Diego Forlán last winning it for Atlético Madrid in 2008-09.
Dovbyk’s path to the golden boot wasn’t without challenges. Going into the final matchday, he was two goals behind Villarreal’s Alexander Sørloth in the scoring charts. However, his penalty, though seemingly inconsequential in a 7-0 win, completed his hat-trick for the night and nudged him ahead of Sørloth. This left Dovbyk anxiously awaiting the outcome of Villarreal’s match the following day.
Sørloth, who was unable to score, was injured and substituted after just 17 minutes in his team’s game against Osasuna, thus securing Dovbyk’s award. This accolade made Dovbyk only the second Ukrainian to win a golden boot in one of the top five European leagues, following Andriy Shevchenko’s achievement with Milan in 2003-04 (also 24 goals).
This accomplishment was also a significant team achievement for Girona. The Catalonian club was one of Spain’s standout stories this season, surpassing all expectations to secure an impressive third place, with Dovbyk as a central figure in their remarkable performance. The Ukrainian forward played a pivotal role for Michel’s squad, leading them to European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
Dovbyk’s adaptation to Spanish football was smooth. He joined Girona from Ukrainian side SC Dnipro-1 for a modest €7.75 million last summer, though this wasn’t his first experience outside Ukrainian football. He had previously spent two seasons with Danish club FC Midtjylland but struggled to make a significant impact before returning to Ukraine.
At Dnipro-1, Dovbyk rejuvenated his career, finishing as the top scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League with 24 goals in the 2022-23 season. His standout performance caught the attention of the City Football Group, which owns Girona. In search of a replacement for Taty Castellanos, the group turned to Dovbyk to fill the void left by their departing top scorer. This decision has certainly proven to be a successful one.
Dovbyk made an immediate impact at Montilivi, scoring just eight minutes into his debut with a powerful header that salvaged a point against Real Sociedad. This early goal was a prelude to his season-long dominance, as he went on to cause significant problems for opposition defenses throughout the campaign. He quickly became the focal point of Girona’s prolific attack, which netted an impressive 85 league goals— the highest total by any club in a single La Liga season outside of Real Madrid or Barcelona since Athletic Club’s 88 goals in 1950-51.
In total, Dovbyk was a standout performer for the Catalan club, amassing 24 goals and eight assists in 36 league appearances. Remarkably, only Harry Kane (44), Kylian Mbappé (34), and Cole Palmer (33) recorded more direct goal involvements than Dovbyk (32) in the top five European leagues for the 2023-24 season.
Dovbyk’s Is A Scoring Machine, Aerial Dominator, and Girona’s Record-Breaker
Dovbyk was central to Girona’s setup, playing as the sole striker in Michel’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and he quickly made a significant impact. Adapting swiftly to the pace of La Liga, he established himself as one of Europe’s most clinical forwards.
His effectiveness is most evident in the penalty area. Last season, Dovbyk registered 203 touches within the opposition’s box, ranking third in La Liga behind Real Madrid’s Rodrygo (222) and Vinícius Júnior (221). Remarkably, 31% of Dovbyk’s total touches occurred in the opponent’s penalty area, the highest percentage among players in Europe’s top five leagues.
He excels at creating space in the box with perfectly-timed runs and subtle movements that evade defenders’ attention. This skill allows him to separate from his marker and offer a reliable option for teammates. Last season, no player in La Liga received more open-play crosses than Dovbyk (40). He developed a strong connection with the team’s wingers, Sávio and Viktor Tsygankov, with their interplay often looking almost telepathic.
The striker demonstrated a keen ability to score, avoiding overcomplication by aiming for quick, instinctive first-time shots before goalkeepers could react. His impressive underlying statistics reflect this prowess. He led La Liga in expected goals both overall (0.84) and from non-penalty attempts (0.62) per 90 minutes last season.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Dovbyk is an imposing figure in the box. His aerial dominance is well-established, and he frequently overpowers defenders, with only Sørloth (7) scoring more headed goals than Dovbyk (6) last season.
He is also one of the most formidable strikers in transition, leading Michel’s side’s varied attacking efforts. Dovbyk constantly disrupted defenses within the 18-yard box, adding a new layer to Girona’s play by finishing off intricate passing moves.
The Ukrainian proved to be a significant challenge for defenders, aggressively attacking every delivery into the penalty area. His goal-scoring versatility was evident as he ranked in La Liga’s top 10 for both shots (85) and shots on target (46). Additionally, only Harry Kane (30.6) and Erling Haaland (29.3) had higher expected goals (xG) totals than Dovbyk (24.3) in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, Dovbyk is much more than a mere goal poacher. He’s adept at dropping deep to retrieve the ball and initiating third-man plays by distributing it to teammates. Leveraging his physical presence, he can pin central defenders and involve supporting players in attacks. At Girona, deep-lying playmakers Daley Blind and Aleix García frequently utilized Dovbyk as a key outlet to navigate through the opposition’s press.
Dovbyk’s mere presence draws defenders, often pulling them out of position and creating space for his attacking teammates. Despite his size, he displays surprising agility and skill in combining with others to exploit spaces behind opposition defenses. His ability to hold the ball and advance play has been invaluable in helping his team move up the field.
The 26-year-old has set several notable records during his tenure at Montilivi, including surpassing Cristhian Stuani’s record for the most goals by a Girona player in a single La Liga season, with 24 strikes compared to Stuani’s 21 in 2017-18.
Euro 2024 could have been the perfect culmination of Dovbyk’s outstanding season, but both he and Ukraine underperformed in Germany. The team was eliminated in the group stage, scoring only two goals overall, and Dovbyk failed to make an impact, remaining scoreless over 247 minutes and managing just six shots.
Despite a disappointing Euro 2024, Dovbyk remains one of the most sought-after players on the transfer market, with Atlético Madrid reportedly securing his signature.
De Rossi’s team finished sixth in Serie A last season, but they are historically a much larger club. With Álvaro Morata moving to Milan and Lukaku ending his loan tenure, Roma was in need of a new striker to fill the void. Dovbyk could be the solution.
Having already set the record as Girona’s most expensive signing following his transfer from Dnipro-1 last summer, it wouldn’t be surprising if he also became their most significant sale.
