UTA Arad has bolstered its squad for the upcoming 2025/26 SuperLiga campaign by signing experienced left-back Andrea Padula, who arrives from FCU Craiova. The 29-year-old defender, holding dual Italian and Romanian citizenship, completed his transfer on Monday, marking UTA’s fifth confirmed signing this summer.
Padula brings valuable experience from both Romanian and Swiss football. Over the past two seasons at FCU Craiova, he was a key figure and even captained the side in Liga II, amassing 54 appearances and scoring twice. Prior to his time in Romania, Padula played in Switzerland for clubs including Basel—where he featured in 20 matches—as well as Monza in Italy and several other Swiss teams.
His tenure at FCU Craiova spanned the club’s relegation to the second tier and their subsequent struggle to reach the Liga II playoffs in the current season. In 2024/25, Padula contributed one goal and one assist in 24 league appearances, demonstrating his ability to impact both defensively and offensively.
Earlier this year, Padula had been linked with Romania’s top club FCSB, expressing readiness to take a significant step in his career. Although that move did not materialize, his commitment and form have not gone unnoticed. His versatility allows him to operate primarily as a left-back but also cover central defensive roles when needed.
UTA’s acquisition of Padula follows the signings of several other reinforcements, including Kosovar forward Mevlan Zeka, Ukrainian defender Dmitro Pospelov, midfielder Alin Roman, and North Macedonian defender Din Alomerovic. These moves reflect the club’s intent to strengthen its squad depth and competitiveness after coach Adrian Mihalcea noted the team was not fully prepared following their preseason camp in Slovenia.
Padula could make his debut for UTA against his former side’s historic rival, Universitatea Craiova, as they visit Arad on July 12 in the opening round of the new SuperLiga season, setting up a compelling storyline for both the player and the club.