Dimitar Veselinov Mitov (; born 22 January 1997) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Aberdeen and the Bulgaria national team.
Born in Montana, Mitov spent part of his childhood in Kozloduy, where he began training football at the age of nine. Initially, he was deployed as an outfield player. After a short stint with Dunav Selanovtsi, in 2009, at age 12, he had a successful tryout with Hristo Stoichkov's academy and joined the ranks of Chavdar Etropole.
Mitov joined Charlton Athletic in 2013 from Chavdar Etropole, after undergoing a trial at Nottingham Forest. In April 2015, he scored a goal from his own six-yard box against Coventry City U18's, gaining press attention. He featured for the club at under-18, under-21 and under-23 level but did not make a senior appearance for the club.
In February 2015, Mitov joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island on a one-month loan. He made a single appearance in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Lewes on 28 February 2015.
Following his release from Charlton Athletic, Mitov joined EFL League Two club Cambridge United on a two-year contract. On 8 August 2017, he made his debut for the club in a 4âÂÂ1 EFL Cup defeat to Bristol Rovers. Mitov's first league appearances for Cambridge came in the final three games of the 2017âÂÂ18 season, playing against Morecambe, Newport County and Port Vale.
On 16 May 2018, he extended his contract with Cambridge United. The contract kept him at the club until 2021 and was subsequently extended. During the 2018âÂÂ19 season, Mitov replaced David Forde as the first choice goalkeeper; he went on to make a total amount of 21 league appearances in total over the season.
During the 2020âÂÂ21 season, Mitov made 20 league appearances as United gained promotion to League One.
On 23 August 2021, Mitov won Carabao Cup First Round Player of the Round for his performance in a match against Swindon Town, which the U's won on penalties. On 8 January 2022, he gained attention for his performance after his team caused a major upset by beating Premier League side Newcastle United 1âÂÂ0 at St Jamesâ Park in the third round of the FA Cup, making numerous saves to keep them in the game. United ended the season 14th in the League One table. On 30 April 2022, Mitov was named United's Player of the Season.
Mitov helped the U's dramatically stay up in League One on the final day of the 2022âÂÂ23 season, with a 2âÂÂ0 win over Forest Green Rovers. Following the season's conclusion, he left United upon the expiration of his contract, having been with the club for six years and making 146 appearances.
On 14 July 2023, Mitov joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a two-year contract. On 26 August, he kept his first clean sheet of the season in a goalless league draw against Celtic. Mitov helped keep up St Johnstone on the final day of the season, saving a crucial penalty in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat of Motherwell. He subsequently won all but one of the club's Player of the Season awards.
On 19 June 2024, Mitov signed for fellow Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. According to Mitov, he chose to move to Aberdeen because of the club's "huge history". He made an instant impact at the club, saving a penalty in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Ross County. Mitov heavily contributed to an early 13-match winning streak for the Dons under new manager Jimmy Thelin. On 09 November 2024, he saved yet another penalty in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Dundee. On 1 December 2024, he suffered a long-term hamstring injury in the 46th minute of a match against Heart of Midlothian, and was replaced by Ross Doohan.
On 24 May 2025, after returning from injury, he saved two penalties in the shoot-out of the final as Aberdeen beat Celtic to win the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990.
Mitov has represented Bulgaria at every age level from under-16 to under-19. He also captained his nation at under-17 and under-19 level.
In August 2023, he received his first call-up to the Bulgarian senior national team by head coach Mladen KrstajiÃÂ, for a friendly game against Iran and a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying game against Montenegro. On 7 September 2023, Mitov earned his first cap, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1âÂÂ0 loss against the former. He has since taken over the number 1 shirt from the likes of Daniel Naumov and Ivan Dyulgerov. He kept his first international clean sheet in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Tanzania in March 2024, and played every game of the 2024 Nations League group stage for Bulgaria.
Aberdeen
Individual