Earlier this year, Maksym Pukhtieiev was playing against Ferencváros and scoring in Hungary’s top flight. Just months later, the Ukrainian striker made his first start for FC Dordoi in Kyrgyztsan.
The 22-year-old’s move from Hungarian top-flight side Kazincbarcika to Kyrgyzstan is an unusual one. It is rare to see players leave one of Europe’s stronger leagues for Asia, in particular the Jogorku Liga.
The transfer reflects Dordoi’s ambitions. In August, the Bishkek club will host Syrian side Homs Al-Fidaa in the AFC Challenge League qualifiers, with newly appointed head coach Vadim Skripchenko strengthening his squad ahead of the club’s return to continental competition. For both Dordoi and Pukhtieiev, the stakes are high.
An addition, not a replacement
Dordoi already boast proven goalscorers in Ernist Batyrkanov and recent signing David Polanco. Pukhtieiev offers something different.
Standing at 6ft 4in (193cm), the Ukrainian provides a physical presence in attack. An ideal target man, he can compete for aerial balls, hold up play, receive long passes and become the focal point for crosses and set pieces.
His debut suggested he is not viewed as a direct replacement for Batyrkanov. Both forwards started together against Talant, giving Skripchenko the option of playing with two strikers or adjusting his attacking shape as the game develops.
That versatility could prove particularly valuable in the AFC Challenge League qualifiers, where matches are often decided by set pieces, second balls and individual duels in the penalty area.
However, it would be wrong to describe Pukhtieiev as simply a target man. During his spell with Slovak second-tier side Šamorín, the forward explained that his role regularly changed depending on the opposition and the coach’s tactical plan.
“My role changes from match to match. Whatever the coaches ask of me, I always try to carry out those instructions as accurately as possible on the pitch,” Pukhtieiev said in the spring of 2025.
From Ukraine’s elite academies to professional football in Hungary
Born in Kharkiv in 2004, Pukhtieiev came through the academies of Shakhtar Donetsk, Dynamo Kyiv and Metalist 1925 before moving to Hungarian side Honvéd at the age of 18.
The Ukrainian initially featured for Honvéd’s reserve side before making his NB I debut against Ferencváros in August 2022. That proved to be his only top-flight appearance for the club before he was loaned to second-tier side Mosonmagyaróvár to gain regular first-team experience.
Speaking to Tribuna.ua in 2025, he said the biggest difference between football in Ukraine and Hungary was the pace and physicality. Although he had other offers, he chose Honvéd because he believed it offered the best environment for his development.
Across Hungary’s second and third tiers, the striker gained valuable senior experience. He featured for Honvéd’s reserves in the NB III before making 32 appearances and scoring twice for Mosonmagyaróvár in the NB II.
A difficult spell in Slovakia
The forward joined Slovak second-tier side Šamorín in the summer of 2024, but his first season was disrupted by injury.
After scoring twice, the striker suffered a fractured bone in his foot, ruling him out for the majority of autumn and delaying his return through repeated setbacks.
He returned in the spring and fought his way back into the team, even starting a Slovak Cup tie against top-flight Spartak Trnava. Šamorín held their opponents to a 1-1 draw before losing on penalties, with Pukhtieiev converting his spot-kick.
In January 2026, the Ukrainian returned to Hungary after newly promoted NB I side Kazincbarcika signed him. Sporting director Miklós Simon, who had previously worked with Pukhtieiev at Honvéd, said the striker’s footballing education and growing experience made him an ideal addition.
“I know what he is capable of. Maksym has gained valuable experience over the last few years, and I hope he can fulfil his potential and reach a new level with us,” Simon said.
Šamorín also highlighted the transfer as another example of the club’s ability to develop players for higher levels, alongside graduates who had moved to the Czech top flight, the Slovak First League and European competition.
Pukhtieiev went on to make nine NB I appearances for Kazincbarcika, scoring once against Paksi FC and featuring in the Hungarian Cup against Ferencváros. However, the club was relegated at the end of the season, paving the way for his move to Dordoi.
Why Kyrgyzstan?
Pukhtieiev joined Dordoi on loan until the end of December. Unlike most foreign arrivals in the Jogorku Liga, he arrived straight from regular involvement in one of Europe’s stronger domestic competitions, having featured in Hungary’s top flight during the spring.
A similar route was previously taken by Ukrainian goalkeeper Mykhailo Hotra, who moved from Kisvárda to Ilbirs. However, Hotra never made a senior appearance in the NB I, making Pukhtieiev the first foreign player to arrive in Kyrgyzstan directly from Hungary’s top division after playing there.
The 22-year-old is not yet a proven goalscorer, but Dordoi have recruited a striker with a rare combination of size, European academy training and senior experience.
He has played in Hungary and Slovakia, faced clubs such as Ferencváros and Spartak Trnava, and now faces the challenge of quickly adapting before Dordoi’s AFC Challenge League qualifier on the 11th of August.
Pukhtieiev’s move also reflects a growing trend. 34 Ukrainian players currently feature in the Jogorku Liga, almost one in every five foreign footballers in the division. By comparison, Kazakhstan’s Premier League has 12 Ukrainian players, while Tajikistan’s top flight has nine.