Ovidiu Popescu

Ovidiu Marian Popescu (Romanian pronunciation: [oˈvidju mariˈan poˈpesku]; born 27 February 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a defender for Liga I club UTA Arad.

Ovidiu Popescu

Popescu with FCSB in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Ovidiu Marian Popescu
Date of birth	(1994-02-27) 27 February 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Reșița, Romania
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, defender
Team information
Current team	UTA Arad
Number	23
Youth career
2004–2009	Muncitorul Reșița
2009–2013	Școala de Fotbal Marcel Băban Jimbolia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2014	UTA Arad	24	(6)
2014–2016	ACS Poli Timișoara	47	(5)
2016–2024	FCSB	200	(4)
2024–2025	Universitatea Cluj	19	(1)
2025–	UTA Arad	4	(0)
International career‡
2015–2016	Romania U21	8	(1)
2021	Romania	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 March 2021

Club career

FCSB

In June 2016, FCSB transferred Popescu for undisclosed fee, with the player penning a five-year deal with a €10 million buyout clause.^[1] He made his debut in the Liga I on 12 August against FC Botoșani, a game Steaua went on to win 2–0.^[2] On 8 September, also against Botoșani but in the Cupa Ligii, Popescu scored his first goal for the Roș-albaștrii.^[3]

He finally scored his first league goal for the club with a free kick in a 2–0 victory over CFR Cluj on 12 March 2017.^[4] During early April, following Popescu's good display, it was reported that Celtic and Southampton were interested in signing him.^[5]

International career

In June 2015, Popescu was selected in Romania's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Armenia.^[6]

He made his debut for Romania national football team on 25 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 August 2025^[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cupa României		Cupa Ligii		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
UTA Arad	2013–14	Liga II	24	6	1	0	—		—		—		25	6
ACS Poli Timișoara	2014–15	Liga II	22	3	0	0	—		—		—		22	3
	2015–16	Liga I	25	2	2	0	0	0	—		—		27	2
	Total		47	5	2	0	0	0	—		—		49	5
FCSB	2016–17	Liga I	27	1	2	1	3	1	5[a]	0	—		37	3
	2017–18	Liga I	24	0	1	0	—		8[b]	0	—		33	0
	2018–19	Liga I	10	0	0	0	—		2[c]	0	—		12	0
	2019–20	Liga I	27	1	4	0	—		8[c]	0	—		39	1
	2020–21	Liga I	35	0	1	0	—		1[c]	0	1[d]	0	38	0
	2021–22	Liga I	30	0	1	0	—		2[e]	0	—		33	0
	2022–23	Liga I	17	1	0	0	—		3[e]	0	—		20	1
	2023–24	Liga I	30	1	3	0	—		3[e]	0	—		36	1
	Total		200	4	12	1	3	1	32	0	1	0	248	6
Universitatea Cluj	2024–25	Liga I	19	1	0	0	—		—		—		19	1
UTA Arad	2025–26	Liga I	4	0	0	0	—		—		—		4	0
Career total			294	16	15	1	3	1	32	0	1	0	345	18

1. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearance in Supercupa României
5. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 28 March 2021^[9]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania
	2021	2	0
Total		2	0

Honours

ACS Poli Timișoara

• Liga II: 2014–15

FCSB^[8]

• Liga I: 2023–24
• Cupa României: 2019–20
• Supercupa României runner-up: 2020^[10]