Matvey Safonov
Russian footballer (born 1999)
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Matvey Yevgenyevich Safonov (also spelled Matvei Safonov; Russian: Матвей Евгеньевич Сафонов; born 25 February 1999) is a Russian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Russia national team.
|
Safonov with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matvey Yevgenyevich Safonov | ||
| Date of birth | 25 February 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Krasnodar, Russia[1] | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2017 | Krasnodar | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2024 | Krasnodar | 147 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | → Krasnodar-2 | 18 | (0) |
| 2024– | Paris Saint-Germain | 23 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014 | Russia U15 | 1 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Russia U16 | 8 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Russia U17 | 9 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Russia U18 | 6 | (0) |
| 2017 | Russia U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Russia U21 | 10 | (0) |
| 2021– | Russia | 32 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 April 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2026 | |||
Club career
Krasnodar
Safonov made his debut in the Russian Premier League for Krasnodar on 13 August 2017 in a game against Amkar Perm.[2][3] On 20 October 2020, he was named the man of the match in Krasnodar's 1–1 draw with Rennes in the UEFA Champions League, his club's debut in the competition.[4] On 18 January 2024, Safonov extended his contract with Krasnodar to 31 January 2029.[5]
Paris Saint-Germain
On 14 June 2024, Safonov joined reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), signing a five-year deal.[6] Media reports quoted a transfer fee in the region of €20 million.[7] On 18 September 2024, he made his debut for PSG in a 1–0 Champions League win over Girona.[8] Following his team's 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final on 1 June, he became the fifth Russian Champions League winner, the first in nine years, since Denis Cheryshev, Igor Dobrovolski, Vladimir But and Dmitri Alenichev.
On 17 December 2025, he saved four penalties in the 2–1 shootout win over Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final after a 1–1 draw, securing his club's first title in the competition.[9]
International career
On 9 October 2020, he was called up to Russia national football team for the first time for UEFA Nations League games against Turkey and Hungary.[10][better source needed]
On 11 May 2021, Safonov was included in the preliminary extended 30-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[11] He debuted on 1 June in a friendly match against Poland.[12]
On 2 June, Safonov was included in the final squad.[13] On 16 June, he played in Russia's second group game against Finland, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory.[14] He played again on 21 June in the last group game – a 1–4 loss against Denmark.[15]
Personal life
Before football, Safonov practiced basketball, swimming, and taekwondo in his youth, also showing aptitude in mathematics and chess.[16] He holds a bachelor's degree from Kuban State University in pedagogy, psychology, and communication, which he obtained in 2021.[17]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 6 May 2026[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Krasnodar-2 | 2017–18 | Russian Second League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19 | Russian First League | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Russian First League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||||
| Krasnodar | 2017–18 | Russian Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[d] | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Russian Premier League | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Russian Premier League | 27 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | |||
| Total | 147 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 0 | — | 175 | 0 | |||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| Total | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 188 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 234 | 0 | ||
- Includes Russian Cup, Coupe de France
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup
International
- As of match played 27 March 2026[19]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 2021 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 0 | |
Honours
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2024–25[20]
- Coupe de France: 2024–25[21]
- Trophée des Champions: 2024[22]
- UEFA Champions League: 2024–25[23]
- UEFA Super Cup: 2025[24]
- FIFA Intercontinental Cup: 2025[25]
- FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2025[26]
Individual
- Russian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Season: 2023–24[27]
- FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final Man of the match: 2025[28]
