Maksim Paskotsi

Centre-back Maksim Paskotsi joined our Academy in September, 2020, from home town club Flora Tallinn in Estonia.

A former student at Tallinna Linnamae Vene Lutseum, he started out in the youth set-up at Tallinna Kalev before joining Flora, where he quickly rose through the ranks and became a regular in their Under-21 side, despite still being in his mid-teens.

He even made two first team appearances for them in the Estonian Cup, playing in a semi-final victory over FC Elva in 2019/20 as his side went on to lift the trophy, before again featuring in a second-round win over Parnu JK in August, 2020, prior to joining us.

He had also been named as a substitute for Flora in the Estonian top flight on numerous occasions.

He marked his debut for our Under-18s with a goal, assist and clean sheet in a 3-0 home win over Fulham in October, 2020.

Previously an Estonia Under-18 international, he was called into Estonia's senior squad as cover from their Under-21s in March, 2021, and came straight in to start in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic on 24 March, thus making his senior international debut.