Ion Nicolaescu (born 7 September 1998) is a Moldovan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Moldova national team.
He is the all-time leading goal scorer for his country, and was named Moldovan Footballer of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
On 20 May 2016, Nicolaescu made his professional debut for Zimbru ChiÃÂinÃÂu in the Divizia NaÃÂionalàagainst Academia ChiÃÂinÃÂu, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute. In the 2018 Moldovan National Division, he scored 5 goals in 12 appearances and reached the final of the 2017âÂÂ18 Moldovan Cup.
Nicolaescu joined Shakhtyor Soligorsk in August 2018. However, he was used as a substitute and didn't score a single goal for the Belarusian club. Of his 15 appearances over two seasons, he started in only three. In an interview, Nicolaescu said that this was due to the general director and the coach having a falling out. He won the 2018âÂÂ19 Belarusian Cup, playing in both legs of the quarter-finals.
In January 2020, Nicolaescu went on loan to the Belarusian team Vitebsk. He was the team's top goal scorer in the 2020 Belarusian Premier League, scoring 9 goals in 18 matches.
Nicolaescu joined DAC Dunajská Streda of Fortuna Liga in September 2020. After mere two days with the club he contributed with two goals to a 5âÂÂ3 victory over Jablonec, advancing the Slovak side to the Third Round of UEFA Europa League qualifying.
In January 2022, Nicolaescu was loaned to Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Petah Tikva. During his loan spell, he scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in 17 appearances. He returned to DAC in June 2022.
In September 2022, Nicolaescu returned to Israel and signed with Beitar Jerusalem. He scored 15 league goals and 3 goals in Israel State Cup during the 2022âÂÂ23 season, helping Beitar Jerusalem win the Israeli State Cup. His three goals in the State Cup games, one against F.C. Kafr Qasim on 11 December 2022, one against Hapoel Afula, on 1 February 2023, during the 4âÂÂ0 win and another goal at the finals against Maccabi Netanya. Nicolaescu scored four goals in a 6âÂÂ3 win over Maccabi Netanya in an Israeli Premier League match.
On 7 August 2023, the Dutch side Heerenveen announced that it had signed Nicolaescu to a three-year contract. Five days later he scored the opening goal in his debut, a 3âÂÂ1 win over RKC Waalwijk. In his second season, Nicolaescu opened his account by scoring a brace in a 4âÂÂ0 win over NAC Breda after coming on as a substitute in the 66th minute. He scored the winner in his Derby of the North debut, a 2âÂÂ1 win over Groningen. With 12 goals in 29 appearances, Nicolaescu was the club's top scorer in both Eredivisie and KNVB Cup.
On 25 June 2025, Nicolaescu signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Israeli Premier League champions.
Nicolaescu debuted for Moldova on 8 September 2018 against Luxembourg in 2018âÂÂ19 UEFA Nations League, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute. He scored his first goal for the national team against Kosovo in 2020âÂÂ21 UEFA Nations League, which was Moldova's only goal in the league phase. He was Moldova's top goal scorer in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2022âÂÂ23 UEFA Nations League, scoring 3 out of 5 and 4 out of 10 team's goals, respectively.
Nicolaescu became Moldova's top goal scorer after scoring his 11th and 12th goals in a 3âÂÂ2 win over Poland in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying. With 4 goals in the competition, he became the first Moldovan to be the top goal scorer of a qualifying group.
Zimbru ChiÃÂinÃÂu
Shakhtyor Soligorsk
DAC Dunajská Streda
Beitar Jerusalem
Maccabi Tel Aviv