Prior to the 2025 season, LAFC added Ukrainian defender Artem Smolyakov from Ukraine side, Polissya Zhytomyr. The defender was brought in on a multi-year contract, added to help bolster a defensive backline that had lost a couple of players during the offseason. While not a name that many who follow LAFC would have heard about prior, by the end of the 2025 season we all knew who he was, after putting in a very solid inaugural season in the MLS and for LAFC.
Artem Smolyakov is Black & Gold.
📝 #LAFC acquires Artem Smolyakov from Polissya Zhytomyr of the Ukrainian Premier League and signs the defender to a contract through 2028.
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 14, 2025
It didn’t take too long for Smolyakov to make his presence known for LAFC, opening his account after just a handful of appearances and while making his first start for the club at the end of March. To say it was a banger would be underselling, it was more shades of Laurent Ciman, taking a shot from real deep and smashing the crossbar and sneaking the ball just under it for a goal that left everyone on their feet and speechless. Unfortunately, though not surprisingly for a defender, it would be the only goal scored by Smolyakov in 2025.
What a strike from the left foot of Artem Smoliakov 🚀 https://t.co/jYOMPf17ts pic.twitter.com/pHMxxHZozA
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 30, 2025
Artem put on a pretty good showing in attack for a defender. He finished the season with the aforementioned goal, served up three assists, had 544 successful passes (86% successful pass rate), had 17 accurate long balls, 9 successful crosses, and created 15 chances in attack with his 930 touches, 21 of those coming in the opposition’s box. He wasn’t too shabby defensively, but also not a wall at the back. He finished the year with 20 tackles, won 48 duels (43% success), won 11 aerial duels (37% success), had 12 interceptions, made 47 recoveries, blocked six shots and was only dribbled past on 11 occasions. Not bad for a player that logged 1,177 minutes on 28 appearances and 13 starts for the club throughout the 2025 MLS Season, including two appearances in the postseason,
The most intriguing thing surrounding the backline for LAFC this coming season will be health. This is a backline that saw a few injuries throughout the season and should everyone start 2026 healthy and ready to go, should be interesting to see what the combination at the back looks like match day one, especially under new Head Coach Marc Dos Santos. That said, while Smolyakov didn’t set the league ablaze, he absolutely has done enough to prove himself worthy of being in the rotation, especially given how many competitions and matches LAFC will see yet again in 2026, but with a contract through 2028, expect to see even more of Artem in the season to come.
Thoughts on the 2025 season for Artem Smolyakov? Leave us a comment below!