Wikipedia

Adrian Popa (footballer, born 1988)

Adrian "Adi" Popa (born 24 July 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga II club CSA Steaua București.

Adrian Popa
Popa in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-07-24) 24 July 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 CSA Steaua București
Number 77
Youth career
2000–2005 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 Steaua București 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 CSA Steaua București 47 (11)
2023–2024 Concordia Chiajna 5 (0)
2024– CSA Steaua București 48 (3)
International career
2012–2017 Romania 24 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 May 2026

Club career

edit

Early years

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

Steaua București

edit

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

International career

edit

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

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 16 May 2026[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Politehnica II Timișoara 2005–06 Divizia B ??————??
2006–07 Liga II ??————??
2007–08 Liga II ??————??
Total 8729————8729
CS Buftea (loan) 2007–08 Liga III ????———??
2008–09 Liga II 11200———112
Total 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 Liga I 43————43
Total 601011———6111
Steaua București 2012–13 Liga I 30120—11[c]1—432
2013–14 Liga I 28750—11[d]01[e]0457
2014–15 Liga I 285433010[f]000458
2015–16 Liga I 32450306[g]100465
2016–17 Liga I 193101010[h]0—313
Total 13720173704821023028
Reading 2016–17 EFL Championship 81———0081
2017–18 EFL Championship 600020——80
2018–19 EFL Championship 100000——10
Total 1510020—00171
Al-Taawoun (loan) 2017–18 Saudi Professional League 90————90
Ludogorets Razgrad (loan) 2018–19 Bulgarian First League 13010———140
FCSB (loan) 2019–20 Liga I 17221—1[c]0—203
Voluntari 2020–21 Liga I 8200———82
Academica Clinceni 2020–21 Liga I 192————192
CSA Steaua București 2021–22 Liga II 19500———195
2022–23 Liga II 28611———297
Total 471111———4912
Concordia Chiajna 2023–24 Liga II 5000———50
CSA Steaua București 2023–24 Liga II 70————70
2024–25 Liga II 23210———242
2025–26 Liga II 18110———191
Total 48320———503
Career total 51984246904921059592
  1. ↑ Includes Cupa României, Bulgarian Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Cupa Ligii, EFL Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ↑ Appearance in Supercupa României
  6. ↑ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  8. ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

edit
Appearances and goals by national team and year[14]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201210
201330
201410
201571
2016113
201710
Total244
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[14]
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

edit

References

edit
  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.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adrian_Popa_(footballer,_born_1988)&oldid=1354815825"