Ianis Ilie Stoica (; born 8 December 2002) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Primeira Liga club Estrela Amadora.
After progressing through the youth systems of Petrolul PloieÃÂti and SC Freiburg, Stoica made his senior debut for FCSB in 2017, aged 14. He spent the next seasons on loan at various Liga I and Liga II clubs, before joining Hermannstadt in 2024. The following year, he moved abroad for the first time by signing with Portuguese team Estrela Amadora.
Internationally, Stoica played for Romania from under-16 up to under-21 level, and represented the latter side at the 2025 UEFA European Championship.
Stoica started his career in 2009 in the academy of Petrolul PloieÃÂti, the same year his father Pompiliu signed a professional contract with the club. He left Petrolul in 2016 when it folded, and then had a six-month spell with SC Freiburg in Germany before returning to his country with FCSB, also a former club of his father.
Stoica made his senior debut for FCSB on 25 October 2017, aged 14, in a 6âÂÂ1 away rout of SÃÂnÃÂtatea Cluj in the Cupa României. He became the youngest player to feature in a competitive match for the club, and also scored his first goal in the process.
In the winter transfer window of 2019, Stoica agreed to a loan with DunÃÂrea CÃÂlÃÂraÃÂi for the remainder of the season, and on 17 February made his Liga I debut in a goalless draw with Voluntari.
Stoica spent the following campaigns on loan in the second tier with his former youth team Petrolul PloieÃÂti, Metaloglobus BucureÃÂti, and CSM Slatina, respectively. He had his most fruitful stint with the latter, scoring seven times from 24 games in spite of the club's relegation at the end of the 2020âÂÂ21 season.
On 1 August 2021, Stoica came off the bench for FCSB to equalise late in a 1âÂÂ1 league draw at UTA Arad. On the 29th that month, he scored the only goal of the RoÃÂ-albaÃÂtrii in a 1âÂÂ4 away loss to four-time defending champions CFR Cluj. Following his first team breakthrough, owner George Becali announced that he rejected a â¬7.5 million bid for Stoica from Premier League club Arsenal, although the veridicity of his claims was questioned.
On 15 December 2021, Stoica came off the bench at half-time, obtained a penalty in extra time and netted a goal for himself in a 3âÂÂ1 derby defeat of Rapid BucureÃÂti. On 30 January 2022, he scored again in another Bucharest derby by coming off the bench in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Dinamo BucureÃÂti.
After failing to score any goals during the first half of the 2022âÂÂ23 season, Stoica was sent out on a six-month loan to Universitatea Cluj on 17 December 2022. His loan was extended for another year, but he left the club prematurely on 2 February 2024, after receiving an offer from Israeli team Hapoel Be'er Sheva and refusing to train.
On 7 February 2024, after his move to Hapoel Be'er Sheva fell through, Stoica joined fellow Liga I club Hermannstadt for a â¬500,000 transfer fee, payable within one year. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and was assigned the number 7 shirt.
Stoica made his debut on 11 February 2024, in a goalless league draw with his former youth side Petrolul PloieÃÂti, and totalled five goals from 15 Liga I appearances by the end of the season. On 14 February 2025, he delivered a standout performance by scoring his first professional hat-trick within 21 minutes after coming on at half-time, leading his team to a 3âÂÂ2 away win over Sepsi OSK.
Over the course of the 2024âÂÂ25 campaign, he made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists. He also played a role in Hermannstadt's run to the final of the Cupa României, where they finished as runners-up after a 2âÂÂ3 loss to CFR Cluj.
On 28 July 2025, Stoica completed a â¬1.3 million transfer to Portuguese side Estrela Amadora, signing a three-year contract and being handed the numberâ¯10 jersey. Hermannstadt also retained 20% interest on a possible future sale.
Stoica made his competitive debut on 11 August 2025, scoring just one minute after coming on as a substitute to secure a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Estoril in the opening match of the Primeira Liga season.
Stoica is a Romania youth international, and has represented the country from under-16 up to under-21 level. On 15 August 2019, he scored on debut for the under-18s in a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Albania. He repeated the performance at the under-21 side on 7 September 2021, netting in a 1âÂÂ1 friendly draw with Georgia.
On 15 October 2024, Stoica scored a double for Romania under-21 in a 3âÂÂ1 home win over Switzerland counting for the 2025 UEFA European Championship qualifiers. The result secured his nation the first place in their group, qualifying for their fourth consecutive European Under-21 Championship.
Stoica is a versatile attacker, being able to play on the wing or as a lone striker, but can also be deployed in a less advanced position in the midfield. Michael Yokhin of Goal noted that he "is quick, loves to dribble and improvise, and feels comfortable on both flanks", although "he would arguably be more dangerous on the left" since he is right-footed.
Stoica's father, Pompiliu, was also a professional footballer. A left-back, he too played for FCSBâÂÂthen named Steaua BucureÃÂtiâÂÂand Petrolul PloieÃÂti.
Universitatea Cluj
Hermannstadt