Yaroslav Mikhaylov

Yaroslav Mikhaylov came through Zenit Saint Petersburg's academy after arriving from Pskov-747 as a boy, working his way through the club's youth and reserve sides and picking up the Saint Petersburg Championship and Cup along the way. Sent on loan to Schalke 04 for the 2021–22 season, he made eight appearances in the 2. Bundesliga and two in the DFB-Pokal, scored once, and was part of the squad that won the second-tier title and returned Schalke to the Bundesliga.

Zenit kept moving him around rather than fitting him straight into the first team. He finally returned to Zenit for 2025–26 and was on the books when the club won the Russian Premier League, though his own game time there was limited to a single league appearance and six in the cup.

Mikhaylov moved to FC Rostov on a free transfer in July 2026, with Zenit retaining a sell-on clause on any future sale. At international level he has been capped by Russia at Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21, and was invited to a senior national team training camp in September 2023, though a first senior cap has not followed.