Boy, 12, signs for Dundee Utd after fleeing war-torn Ukraine and not being able to play football for months

DUNDEE UNITED have signed a boy whose family had to flee from Ukraine after the country was invaded by Russia.

Stanislav Drbych, 12, settled with his family in Monifieth, Scotland and his skills with the ball were quickly noticed by his school.

His head teacher sent a message to Dundee about Stas, and the club responded by offering him a trial which he completed in September.

After joining the club, the youngster revealed that he is very happy to be able to play football again.

He told the BBC: “It’s like Christmas Day, I can play football again.

“Before I moved from Ukraine, I didn’t play for three months. I forgot what football means and how to play football – now I’m happy.

“If we stay in Scotland I’ll play for Dundee United – because they helped me I’ll help them to win the Scottish league.”;

Dundee’s head of player care, education and safeguarding, Niall Nicolson added: “We take player care very seriously at Dundee United and have done all we can to help Stas and his family.

“His dad was also out of work initially, so we helped with transport to training and also used Google Translate on the phone to communicate.

“Stas also got the chance, as other academy players do, to be the ball boy at a game. He loved the experience and we’ll do all we can to help him – and all players under our care – feel at home at Dundee United.”;

Stas used to play for Lviv academy Rukh while he was in Ukraine, which was a residential school that also provided training.

After fleeing Ukraine with his father, mother, and siblings, Stas admitted that he is still worried about his friends back in hios home country.

He said: “I’m scared. Before the war, the life was happy.

“I wasn’t very worried about anything but now I’m worried about my friends, worried about shelling and worried they might be killed.”;