Oleksiy Kashchuk Qarabag Scout Report

Quick Answer

Oleksiy Kashchuk came through Shakhtar Donetsk’s academy, had a loan spell at FC Mariupol and played for Sabah FK in Azerbaijan, then joined Qarabag on a free transfer on 3 September 2024 — a 1.82m left-footed Ukrainian right winger. His biggest strength is coming off the bench in the 77th minute to score the winning goal away at Benfica in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League; the key watch point is maintaining consistency through the rest of the season amid reports he wants to leave the club.

Player Info Card

Career History

Born in Novohrad-Volynskyi, Kashchuk came through Shakhtar Donetsk’s academy and had a loan spell at FC Mariupol between 2019 and 2022, reaching 8 goals in 48 matches. In the 2022-23 season he went on loan to Sabah FK in Azerbaijan, scoring 18 goals in 39 matches and gaining early familiarity with the league’s physical and tactical structure. After winning the Ukrainian league and cup double with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023-24, he joined Qarabag on a free transfer on 3 September 2024. He won the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Ukraine’s U20 side and has not yet earned a senior cap. In the first round of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, he came off the bench in the 77th minute away at Benfica and scored the winning goal, becoming one of the heroes of a historic night for the club.

Playing Style & Assessment

Rather than a classic touchline winger, Kashchuk offers an inverted right-winger profile who cuts inside on his left foot to shoot or create the final pass, using his pace effectively in off-the-ball runs and transitional attack.

Strengths

• Big-match impact — Scoring the winning goal away at Benfica in the Champions League points to standing out in big moments.
• Previously proven output in Azerbaijan — Reaching 18 goals in 39 matches on loan at Sabah FK points to low adaptation risk in this league.
• International title at a young age — Winning the 2019 World Cup with Ukraine’s U20 side points to early experience of major tournaments.

Development Areas

• Reports of wanting to leave the club — Azerbaijani media have reported he wants to leave Qarabag at the end of the season, a risk factor for short-term motivation and squad planning.
• Limited first-team minutes at Shakhtar — Only 10 appearances at Shakhtar Donetsk’s top level does not form a large sample.
• No senior national-team experience — He has not yet played for Ukraine’s senior national team.

Level Projection

Verdict: A Ukrainian winger with previously proven output in the Azerbaijan league and big-match impact in the Champions League; could be assessed as a competitive starting option for Süper Lig sides seeking transitional attack and an inverted, cutting-inside winger, though a possible departure could affect transfer timing.

Sporting Director’s Note

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Oleksiy Kashchuk? A Ukrainian right winger who came through Shakhtar Donetsk’s academy and had a loan spell at Sabah FK in Azerbaijan before joining Qarabag in 2024, scoring the winning goal against Benfica in the Champions League.

Has Oleksiy Kashchuk played in the Azerbaijan league before? Yes, he went on loan to Sabah FK in the 2022-23 season, scoring 18 goals in 39 matches.

Sources & Methodology

This profile was compiled by cross-referencing Transfermarkt, the club’s official profile page, Wikipedia and accessible football data platforms. Tactical commentary and the level projection are GegenSports editorial assessments.

• Wikipedia — Oleksiy Kashchuk
• Footballtransfers.com — Oleksiy Kashchuk transfer data
• RBC-Ukraine — coverage of Kashchuk’s goal against Benfica
• Footboom1.com — reports on Kashchuk’s potential departure