Kirill Peregudov
Hometown: Ukraine
Position: Central Attacking Midfielder
Jersey: #7
School/Club: University of West Alabama
Some Guys Play It Safe. Kirill Peregudov Is Not One of Those Guys.
At 20 years old, Kirill Peregudov had already done what most young players only dream about. He finished his youth career in Germany, earned a spot on a senior club, and had a clear path forward. Then an unexpected door opened: a chance to come to the United States, play college soccer, and write a completely different story.
He took it.
"I knew if something goes wrong I can always go back to Germany," he said. "But I decided to take a risk and I'm glad I did."
That willingness to bet on himself is the thread that runs through everything Kirill does, on the field and off it.
The Player
Watch Kirill for five minutes and you understand what makes him different. He does not just react to the game. He controls it. As a central attacking midfielder, he dictates tempo, finds gaps in the final third that most players do not see, and makes decisions at a pace that makes the whole thing look unhurried. He is two-footed, technically clean, and equally comfortable threading a pass through a tight window, driving at a defender in a one versus one, or pulling the trigger from distance.
"Technical ability, shooting, passing are definitely my strong points," he said. "I can find a gap to make a pass into the final third, beat the defender in one versus one, or just shoot the ball from solid distance. My left foot gives me more freedom on the field to build up even under pressure."
Right now he is pushing himself to add more goals and assists to go with the creative work he is already producing. With a heavy schedule across both the club and college levels, recovery and stamina are also front of mind. He wants to stay sharp and available, game after game, without breaking down. That level of honest self-assessment is rare in a player his age, and it is exactly what separates good players from the ones who keep getting better.
The Journey
Kirill grew up in Ukraine and came through the youth system in Germany, eventually signing with Eintracht Norderstedt at the senior level. By every measure, the path forward was set. Then came the offer to study and play in America, and everything changed.
His first year in the United States has been the kind that sounds like a highlight reel when you list it out. He finished his freshman year at the University of West Alabama with a 4.0 GPA. He earned a full scholarship to a university in Texas. He got his driver's license. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, he found Statesville.
What surprised him most about this community had nothing to do with the stadium or the schedule. It was the feeling.
"Everyone knows everyone and it feels like being in a community with family vibes, where people are just ready to help and support you anytime," he said. "And just by seeing how much effort people are putting in for a club in its first year ever, it makes me glad that I can be part of the team."
For a young man far from home, in a country still new to him, that kind of welcome lands differently than it might for someone else.
The Why
When asked what keeps him going, Kirill did not reach for a famous quote or a rehearsed answer. He talked about his family back in Ukraine. He knows what they are carrying. And every performance, every grade, every small win on and off the field is something he is bringing back to them.
"I know what they're going through back home and I want to bring some happiness to their lives due to my performances and achievements," he said. "That's what makes me keep going and work hard."
That is not a talking point. That is a reason.
The Goal
This season, Kirill wants one thing above everything else: make the playoffs with Statesville FC. He also wants to hold onto something a little more personal. After being named captain last match, he would very much like to stay the youngest captain in club history for at least the next decade. He said it with a laugh.
But you get the feeling he means it.
The Herd is lucky to have him.
Kirill Peregudov | Central Attacking Midfielder | Originally from Ukraine | University of West Alabama | Statesville FC 2026
