Dinamo București’s most expensive transfer this summer, 19-year-old Israeli defender Nikita Stoinov, will be unable to appear for the club until August due to bureaucratic registration delays linked to his non-EU citizenship. The club paid approximately 450,000 euros to Maccabi Netanya for the left-footed central defender, who signed a four-year contract until June 2029[1][2][3].
Dragoș Petcu, Dinamo’s operational director, explained that Stoinov’s delayed LPF registration is caused by lengthy Romanian immigration procedures required for non-EU players, involving multiple official documents and work permits, resulting in at least several weeks’ wait before match eligibility. This means Stoinov missed Dinamo’s opening match on July 15, and under the best-case scenario, his debut could be in the league derby against FCSB on August 2[1][2].
Stoinov, standing at 1.92 meters, featured in 21 matches with Maccabi Netanya last season, scoring once and providing an assist. At Dinamo, he is expected to compete for a central defense role alongside Kennedy Boateng and Andrei Mărginean. The club also plans to sign an additional center-back[1][2].
This delay highlights persistent administrative challenges for Romanian clubs registering non-EU players, affecting squad integration and tactical planning early in the Liga I season.
*Implication*: Dinamo will have to rely on existing defensive options for their first matches, possibly impacting early-season results in their effort to stabilize in Liga I.