Transfers: Daejeon Hana Citizen sign Latvia international striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis

Daejeon Hana Citizen have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of Latvia international striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis from Polish champions Rakow Czestochowa.
Image via Daejeon Hana Citizen Press Release

Gutkovskis, who will be known simply as "Gutek," will wear the 99 shirt for Daejeon and joins having helped fire Rakow Czestochowa to the Polish top division title, scoring eight and assisting three in 32 appearances.

The 28-year-old has made 43 caps for Latvia and scored 11 goals with four assists.

Speaking about the move to Purple Arena, Gutkovskis said:

"I heard that Daejeon Hana Citizen are a team with a very high target and vision. Also, I heard that it is a great club that has strong teamwork and very passionate fans. I am very happy to be able to take on this new challenge with a fantastic team like this in K League. I'll do my best to contribute to the team with everything I have."

Who is Vladislavs Gutkovskis?

Gutkovskis made his professional debut in 2011 for JFK Olimps Riga in the Latvian Virsliga (top tier), making 13 appearances before joining Skonto Riga a year later. For the first team, Gutkovskis played 73 times, scored 45, and assisted eight before moving to Termalica Nieciecza in Poland in 2016. He made 112 appearances for the club, scored 33 and assisted six over a four-year spell before joining Rakow Czestochowa where he won the Latvian league title as well as the Player of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022.

He's a physical presence, standing 187cm tall (6 ft 2), weighs 87 kg and is a player who's known for his ability to win duels and win headers. Daejeon see him as the final piece of the puzzle in terms of the club's attack.

Source: Daejeon Hana Citizen Press Release

Stats

With a shooting accuracy of 40.38%, Gutkovskis ranked 19th overall in the Poland Ekstralasa (top division) last season but this was the best among his Rakow Czestochowa teammates. He managed 11 headed shots, ranking him joint-10th in this regard in the league and second among Rakow players.

His eight league goals came from an xG of 10.99 and four came in the same game, a 7-1 demolition of Wisła Płock which had a certain Anton Kryvotsiuk playing at left back. His crossing accuracy was at 42.9%, dribbles were 46% successful, he won 32.2% of his duels, 36.2% of aerial duels, 34.7% of his offensive duels, had 70 touches in the box, and made 25 progressive runs.

via Wyscout