Adrian Popa
Popa in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-07-24) 24 July 1988
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Concordia Chiajna
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2005 CSȘ 1 Pajura
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Politehnica II Timișoara 87 (26)
2007–2008 → CS Buftea (loan) 11 (2)
2009 → Gloria Buzău (loan) 12 (1)
2009–2010 Universitatea Cluj 24 (3)
2010–2012 Concordia Chiajna 60 (10)
2012–2017 FCSB 137 (20)
2017–2020 Reading 15 (1)
2018 → Al-Taawoun (loan) 10 (2)
2019 → Ludogorets Razgrad (loan) 13 (0)
2019–2020 → FCSB (loan) 17 (2)
2020–2021 Voluntari 8 (2)
2021 Academica Clinceni 19 (2)
2021–2023 Steaua București 47 (11)
2023– Concordia Chiajna 5 (0)
International career
2012–2017 Romania 24 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 October 2023

Adrian Popa (born 24 July 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga II club Concordia Chiajna.

Club career

Early years

Popa was one of the most proficient players of the Politehnica Timișoara reserve team, and was loaned to CS Buftea and Gloria Buzău.

Universitatea Cluj

In July 2009, Popa signed a contract with Universitatea Cluj. Although he showed impressive skills and helped the team get promoted to the first division, he left the club after one year.

Concordia Chiajna

In 2010, Popa joined Concordia Chiajna. He contributed to the club's promotion to the first division and was kept for the following season.

FCSB

On 15 August 2012, Popa signed a five-year contract with FCSB for an undisclosed transfer fee.[1][2] One week later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 away win over FK Ekranas in the Europa League play-off round's first leg.[3]

He played over 200 games during his spell with the capital-based club.

Reading

On 27 January 2017, it was announced that Popa agreed to transfer to English team Reading after reaching the final six months of his contract with FCSB.[4] The transfer was made official three days later, with Popa signing with Reading until the summer of 2020.[5]

His first goal came on 17 March 2017, scoring Reading's second in injury time in a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the Hillsborough Stadium.[6]

Loan to Al-Taawon

On 29 January 2018, Reading confirmed that Popa had joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawon on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[7][8]

Loan to Ludogorets Razgrad

On 20 December 2018, Reading announced that Popa had moved to Ludogorets Razgrad on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season.[9]

Voluntari

On 16 October 2020, Popa signed a one-year contract with FC Voluntari.[10]

Steaua București

On 22 September 2021, Popa signed a two-year contract with his childhood team, Steaua București. [11]

International career

Popa made his debut for the Romania senior team in October 2012, in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Netherlands.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 March 2022[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
CS Buftea (loan) 2008–09 Liga II 11200–––112
Gloria Buzău (loan) 2008–09 Liga I 121––––121
Universitatea Cluj 2009–10 Liga II 24300–––243
Concordia Chiajna 2011–12 Liga II 27400–––274
2011–12 Liga I 29311–––304
2012–13 43––––43
Total 601011––––––6111
FCSB 2012–13 Liga I 30120–11[lower-alpha 1]1–432
2013–14 28750–11[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0457
2014–15 285433010[lower-alpha 4]000458
2015–16 32450306[lower-alpha 5]100465
2016–17 193101010[lower-alpha 6]0–313
Total 13720173704821023028
Reading 2016–17 Championship 810000––81
2017–18 600020––80
2018–19 100000––10
Total 1510020––171
Al-Taawoun (loan) 2017–18 Saudi Professional League 9000–––90
Ludogorets Razgrad (loan) 2018–19 First League 13010–0000140
FCSB (loan) 2019–20 Liga I 17221–1[lower-alpha 7]0–203
Voluntari 2020–21 Liga I 8200–––82
Academica Clinceni 2020–21 Liga I 19200–––192
Steaua București 2021–22 Liga II 19500–––195
2022–23 28611–––297
Total 471111–––4912
Concordia Chiajna 2023–24 Liga II 4000–––40
Career total 37852226904921045760
  1. ↑ Appearances in the Europa League
  2. ↑ Appearances in the Champions League
  3. ↑ Appearance in the Supercupa României
  4. ↑ Five appearances in the Champions League and five in the Europa League
  5. ↑ Four appearances in the Champions League and two in the Europa League
  6. ↑ Four appearances in the Champions League and six in the Europa League
  7. ↑ One appearance in the Europa League

International

[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201210
201330
201410
201571
2016113
201710
Total244

[14]

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Popa goal.
List of international goals scored by Adrian Popa
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 February 2015Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey7 Moldova2–02–1Friendly
2 3 June 2016Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania14 Georgia1–05–1Friendly
3 4 September 2016Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca, Romania17 Montenegro1–01–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 8 October 2016Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, Armenia18 Armenia2–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

FCSB

Ludogorets Razgrad

References

  1. ↑ "Adrian Popa este noul jucător al Stelei!" [Adrian Popa is the new player of Steaua!] (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 15 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Astea-s contractele! » Gazeta are toate datele din acordurile pe care le-au semnat Adi Popa şi Szukala" [These are the contracts! » Gazeta has all the details about the agreements signed by Popa and Szukala] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ekranas – Steaua 0–2! Kawasaki-vicius! Titular în premieră, Adi Popa a înscris PRIMUL său gol în tricoul grupării din Ghencea" [Ekranas – Steaua 0–2! Kawasaki-vicius! A starter for the first time, Adi Popa scored his FIRST goal for the Ghencea-based team] (in Romanian). Pro Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Despărțire emoționantă la Steaua! Adi Popa și-a luat "la revedere" de la colegi" [Heartwarming farewell at Steaua! Adi Popa said goodbye to his teammates] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Royals complete Popa signing". Reading FC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Popa loan switch confirmed". Reading F.C. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Adrian Popa has left Reading FC to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun on loan". Reading chronicle. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Popa set to spend rest of season on loan at Ludogorets". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "OFICIAL". facebook.com/VoluntariFC/ (in Romanian). Voluntari FC Facebook. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Adi Popa, prezentat oficial la Steaua! Ce număr va purta".
  12. ↑ "Romania 1–4 Netherlands". FIFA. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Adrian Popa". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Adrian Popa". European Football. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
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