Kristian Shevchenko, the 19-year-old son of Ballon d'Or winner Andriy Shevchenko, has signed for Sholing in English football's seventh tier after previous stints with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Watford.
The winger spent time with the two London clubs in 2022 and 2023 before joining Watford, where he signed his first professional contract in 2025. He left the Hornets earlier this summer and has now linked up with the Southern League side ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third-round qualifier at Ebbsfleet.
Sholing's new signing
Sholing, who have taken ten points from their opening eight league games and sit in 16th place, announced the move on social media. The club said: "Join us in welcoming our new signing, Kristian Shevchenko!"
"The 19-year-old joins the Boatmen having developed through the youth setups at Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Watford, signing his first professional contract with the Hornets in 2025. Kristian also represented Ukraine at the 2025 U20 World Cup, bringing international youth experience to SO19. Welcome to the Boatmen."
Family legacy
Kristian has 15 caps for Ukraine at youth level but did not manage a single first-team appearance for Watford after turning professional. He was released by the Championship side during the summer.
His father, Andriy, won the Ballon d'Or in 2004 and enjoyed a glittering career across European football, becoming a cult hero at AC Milan and also playing for Chelsea and Dynamo Kyiv. During his eight-year stint at the San Siro, split across two spells, Shevchenko won the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles. He moved to Stamford Bridge in 2006, where he won the League Cup and FA Cup.
Kristian will hope the move to Hampshire can kick-start his career in English football.
