Universitatea Craiova has completed the signing of Darius Fălcușan, the captain of Romania’s Under-19 national team that reached the semifinals of the recent European Championship. The 19-year-old central defender arrives from Serie A club Empoli, where he featured for their U20 squad, marking Craiova’s tenth summer acquisition as they strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

Craiova proudly announced the transfer with a special video tribute, highlighting Fălcușan’s leadership and consistency during Romania’s impressive U19 EURO run, where he played every minute of all four matches. The club emphasized excitement about integrating a player considered a key prospect for Romanian football’s future and a natural leader on the pitch.

Fălcușan’s journey began in Romania’s youth ranks at “U” Cluj before moving to Italy two years ago. His strong performances at the tournament attracted interest from almost all major Romanian Superliga teams, with Universitatea Craiova ultimately securing his signature through the collaboration of key figures including club president Mihai Rotaru and coach Mirel Rădoi. His agent, Alessandro Acri, has noted that the Romanian legend Mircea Lucescu holds him in high regard, underscoring the defender’s potential.

This signing follows a series of significant transfers for Universitatea Craiova this summer, including striker Assad Al-Hamlawi, Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Romanchuk, and several others, reflecting the club’s ambition to compete at the highest level domestically and in European competitions.