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Aliyev nails colours to Dynamo's mast

FC Dynamo Kyiv have received a boost ahead of their all-Ukrainian UEFA Cup semi-final against FC Shakhtar Donetsk with the news that attacking midfielder Olexandr Aliyev has extended his contract by another two years.

It has been a breakthrough season for Olexandr Aliyev
It has been a breakthrough season for Olexandr Aliyev ©Getty Images

Ukrainian international Olexandr Aliyev has extended his contract with UEFA Cup semi-finalists FC Dynamo Kyiv by a further two seasons.

President's praise
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has committed to the Premier League leaders until 2011 with his previous deal due to expire this summer. Club president Ihor Surkis told Dynamo's official website: "I don't see the Dynamo side of the future without Olexandr Aliyev and Artem Milevskiy. Until recently I was among those who thought he could do a lot better, but he has become a true leader."

Breakthrough season
This term has been a breakthrough campaign for Aliyev, who has developed into a key performer as Dynamo have charged 12 points clear in the league and reached the last four of the UEFA Cup for the first time. He has 12 Premier League goals to his name already – his previous best season haul was three – and has forced his way into the Ukraine national team. "I thought long and hard about my contract extension," Aliyev said. "I'm content at Dynamo, a club playing at a very high level and so decided not to alter anything in my career. Now my contract doesn't expire for two more years and I'm happy."

Record holder
Born in Khabarovsk, eastern Russia, Aliyev became the youngest player in Premier League history when he made his debut for Dynamo at just 17 years and six months, and has gone on to play 42 league matches for the club, scoring 16 goals. Dynamo meet domestic rivals FC Shakhtar Donetsk on 30 April and 7 May for a place in the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul on 20 May.