Ukrainian Andrii Kravchuk training with Man City after arriving in UK as refugee

Manchester City have announced that former Ukraine Under-21 international Andrii Kravchuk is training with the club after travelling to the UK as a refugee.

The 23-year-old terminated his contract with Russian First Division side Torpedo Moscow and fled to Manchester following Russia’s invasion of his homeland.

City have received permission from the Home Office, Football Association and Premier League for Kravchuk to work with their Under-23s squad for the remainder of the season.

The arrangement was set up by City’s Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko, a friend since childhood when both were in the Shakhtar Donetsk academy.

Kravchuk, who linked up with City for the first time on Thursday, said: “I am so grateful to Manchester City for giving me this chance to train with them.

“The past few weeks and months have been so difficult, but to be back on the pitch means so much to me.”

Kravchuk had been at a training camp in Turkey when informed by his mother that war had broken out. It has been a very distressing time with his family still in Kyiv and Kravchuk’s brother fighting with the Ukrainian armed forces.

The past few weeks and months have been so difficult, but to be back on the pitch means so much to me- Andrii Kravchuk

He said: “My mother called me at 5am. She usually calls me at lunchtime after training but this was different.

“Her first words to me were, ‘Russia is bombing us’. It was a shock. I couldn’t find the words. I was destroyed inside. I cannot believe it’s happened. In the 21st century, in the middle of Europe. I still can’t find the words.

“I’ve spoken to my family. They are in Kyiv and safe right now (but) my mother has just told me she can still hear the bombs. I’m really worried.

“I am in groups