Education
Yarmolenko joined the Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy at 13. However, he returned back to Chernihiv after a year, unable to endure the physical demands of training.
Yarmolenko joined the Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy at 13. However, he returned back to Chernihiv after a year, unable to endure the physical demands of training.
Early life and career:
Yarmolenko was born in Saint Petersburg. When he was three years old, his family permanently moved to the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. He is a pupil of the Kiev youth system, playing the youth club Lokomotiv-ONIKS.
Yarmolenko joined the Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy at 13. However, he returned back to Chernihiv after a year, unable to endure the physical demands of training.
Dynamo Kyiv
Yarmolenko signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian giants, Dynamo Kyiv in December 2006 where he was placed in Dynamo-2. The talented youngster was praised as the "new Sheva" by journalists, who noted his qualities of good physique, shot, and especially his speed. Then-vice-president of Dynamo, Yozhef Sabo, also praised the youngster, saying that "[Yarmolenko] has all the makings to become a top-level player."
On 11 May 2008 Yarmolenko debuted for Dynamo's main team in an away match against Vorskla Poltava and scored the winning goal in Kyiv's 1–2 victory. He scored 7 goals in 21 games in his first season and 11 in 19 in his second. He is now regularly used as a left or centre forward. He has been strongly linked with Italian giants AC Milan after reportedly being recommended by former AC Milan star and national team mate Andriy Shevchenko.