Dragoș Nedelcu Explained

Dragoș Nedelcu
Fullname:Dragoș Ionuț Nedelcu
Birth Date:1997 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Constanța, Romania
Height:1.89 m
Position:Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Currentclub:Farul Constanța
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2009–2014
Youthclubs1:Gheorghe Hagi Academy
Years1:2014–2017
Caps1:69
Goals1:2
Clubs1:Viitorul Constanța
Years2:2017–2022
Caps2:62
Goals2:2
Clubs2:FCSB
Years3:2021
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Clubs3:FCSB II
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:0
Years5:2022
Clubs5:Farul Constanța (loan)
Caps5:15
Goals5:2
Years6:2022–
Clubs6:Farul Constanța
Caps6:56
Goals6:1
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalteam1:Romania U17
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalteam2:Romania U19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2014–2019
Nationalteam3:Romania U21
Nationalcaps3:27
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021
Nationalteam4:Romania Olympic
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2016–
Nationalteam5:Romania
Nationalcaps5:6
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:9 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:14 November 2021

Dragoș Ionuț Nedelcu (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /ˈdraɡoʃ joˈnut͡s neˈdelku/; born 16 February 1997) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre-back for Liga I club Farul Constanța.

Nedelcu started his senior career at Viitorul Constanța, for which he made his debut at age 17. He aided the side in winning its first national championship in the 2016–17 season, before being transferred to fellow league team FCSB.

Internationally, Nedelcu earned his first cap for Romania in November 2016, in a 0–1 loss to Russia. He represented the under-21 team at the 2019 UEFA European Championship, where they managed to progress to the semi-finals as group winners.

Club career

Viitorul Constanța

Nedelcu made his professional debut for Viitorul Constanța on 18 July 2014, in a 3–3 draw with Botoșani counting for the season's Cupa Ligii; Viitorul went further after a 5–3 penalty shoot-out win. His first appearance in the Liga I came ten days later, in a goalless draw at CSM Studențesc Iași.[1]

FCSB

On 10 August 2017, Nedelcu signed a five-year contract with FCSB,[2] [3] one month after having initially refused to do so by arguing that he dreams of playing abroad.[4] Him and his Viitorul teammate Romario Benzar were acquired by the Bucharest-based club for a combined cost of 2.7 million,[5] and an additional €500,000 fee was paid for Nedelcu in November to remove an interest clause in his deal.[6]

Nedelcu made his debut for the Roș-albaștrii in a 1–1 league draw with Astra Giurgiu on 12 August 2017.[7] On 5 November that year, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory over Concordia Chiajna.[8]

Loans to Fortuna Düsseldorf and Farul Constanța

Nedelcu often struggled with injuries during his stint in the capital, and on 12 June 2021 was sent out on a one-year loan with a purchase option to 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.[9] On 4 February 2022, after his loan at Fortuna was cancelled prematurely, he moved to his boyhood club Viitorul—now renamed Farul Constanța—on loan for the remainder of the campaign.[10]

Farul Constanța

On 14 June 2022, Nedelcu moved to Farul Constanța on a permanent basis after signing a three-year contract.[11]

International career

In November 2016, Nedelcu received his first call-up to the Romania senior team for the matches against Poland and Russia.[12] He made his debut by coming on for Bogdan Stancu in the 0–1 friendly loss against the latter country.[13]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Viitorul Constanța2014–151501120181
2015–162210010231
2016–17281000020301
2017–1840201070
Total69211304010783
FCSB2017–181812060261
2018–192601020290
2019–201111030151
2020–217010001090
Total6225011010792
FCSB II2020–211010
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)2021–2210010110
Farul Constanța (loan)2021–22152152
Farul Constanța2022–2329110301
2023–24240008110331
2024–25300030
Total713108110814
Career total21378130231302509

International

[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania201610
201810
202140
Total60

Honours

Viitorul Constanța

2016–17

FCSB

2019–20

Farul Constanța

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hagi îl dă pe Nedelcu la AS Roma pentru un milion de euro. "Vede excelent jocul, are pasă, execuţie şi lovitură de cap. E printre cei 4-5 cu perspectivă la naţionala de seniori." Rămâne un singur mare semn de întrebare. Hagi sells Nedelcu to AS Roma for 1 million euros. "He sees the game very well, has a good pass, shot and header. He is one of the 4 or 5 with senior national team perspectives." One question still remains. ProSport. Romanian. 1 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Bine ati venit, Dragos Nedelcu si Romario Benzar!. Welcome, Dragoș Nedelcu and Romario Benzar!. FC Steaua București. Romanian. 10 August 2017. 20 August 2017. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131144345/http://www.steauafc.com/ro/articol/transferuri-nedelcu-benzar/. dead.
  3. News: Clauze impresionante puse lui Nedelcu și Benzar. Impressive clauses for Nedelcu and Benzar. Gazeta Sporturilor. Romanian. 9 August 2017. 20 August 2017.
  4. Web site: "Mulţumesc Stelei pentru interes!" Nedelcu a explicat de ce a refuzat oferta lui Becali: motivul invocat de tânărul fotbalist al lui Hagi. "I thank Steaua for the interest!" Nedelcu explained why he refused Becali's offer: the reason invoked by Hagi's young footballer. ProSport. Romanian. 24 June 2017. 24 June 2017.
  5. News: Becali a dezvăluit suma de transfer pentru Nedelcu și Benzar. Becali revealed the transfer fee for Nedelcu and Benzar. Digi Sport. Romanian. 9 August 2017. 9 August 2017.
  6. Web site: Becali și Miriuță, dialog în direct despre transferul lui Nemec! Ironia patronului de la FCSB la adresa marii rivale + anunță un nou transfer. Becali and Miriuță, discussion about Nemec's transfer! FCSB's owner irony for the great rival + he announced a new transfer. Gazeta Sporturilor. Romanian. 16 November 2017.
  7. News: FCSB - Astra 1–1. Digi Sport. Romanian. 12 August 2017. 20 August 2017.
  8. News: Primul gol al lui Nedelcu la FCSB, o "bijuterie"! Execuţie de la 25 de metri. Nedelcu's first goal at FCSB, a "jem"! 25-meter strike. Digi Sport. Romanian. 5 November 2017. 26 November 2017.
  9. Web site: Dragoș Nedelcu a fost prezentat la noua echipă » Obiectiv important: "Vreau să promovez!". Dragoș Nedelcu was presented at his new team » Important objective: "I want us to get promoted!". Gazeta Sporturilor. Romanian. 12 June 2021. 12 June 2021.
  10. Web site: Bine ai (re)venit, Dragoș Nedelcu !. Welcome back (again) Dragoș Nedelcu!. FCV Farul Constanța. ro. 4 February 2022. 4 February 2022.
  11. Web site: OFICIAL Farul a luat definitiv un jucător de la FCSB: "Mult succes în tricoul alb-albastru!". OFFICIAL Farul permanently brought a FCSB player: "Good luck in the white-blue shirt!". Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 14 June 2022. 24 March 2023.
  12. News: Keșeru, convocat pentru meciul cu Polonia. "Keșeru called-up for the match against Poland. Romanian Football Federation. 4 November 2016. 7 November 2016. 12 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712214833/http://www.frf.ro/masculin/echipa-nationala/keseru-convocat-pentru-meciul-cu-polonia-id20894.html. dead.
  13. Web site: Ultimul meci al tricolorilor din acest an, Rusia - România 1-0. The last match of tricolour this year, Russia - Romania 1-0. frf.ro. Romanian Football Federation. 15 November 2016. ro. 15 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116175107/http://frf.ro/masculin/echipa-nationala/live-rusia-romania-ora-1800-ultimul-meci-al-tricolorilor-din-acest-an-id20978.html. 16 January 2017. dead.
  14. Web site: Dragoș Nedelcu. European Football. 20 August 2017.